Zandvlei Trust

Courses offered at the Field Studies Centre



Part of the display board showing the many and varied projects offered.


Courses are available to all irrespective of race, colour, politics, religion, sex or age. The only qualification is a determination  and enthusiasm to improve ones circumstances. The courses are practical and hands on, with a minimum f academic learning. During the courses are things that will be sold. The value of profit and labour component of the product will be credited to the account of the pupil and will be used for the purchase of any capital plant needed to allow the continuation of the pupils business after the course. The balance i.e. material costs, will be used to purchases more raw materials.

How the system works.
Assessment procedure,
establish aptitude (preferably undertaken by a specialist),
discover spectrum of industries,
residencies,
geography,
topography and other important factors of the area where the student comes from, including demographics and socio-economic range and ratio.

Students will either work on a project which they choose or will be given a project from the list of over 100 possible enterprises commensurate with their aptitude and interest in order to learn the principles which are important to entrepreneurial success. We then proceed step by step  together to make the project a viable and profitable venture. We will concentrate on projects that can be undertaken in rural areas to slow down the mass migration to urban areas where the families are likely to live in poverty and squalor and where there are pressures to become involved in crime and drugs. The course will give the student leads on how to identify an entreneurial opportunity and what makes a successful entrepreneur.



Some of the courses offered from the large display noticeboard.

Other skills and activities;

  • how to start self - employment with little or no start up funding
  • how to undertake simple market research
  • simple bookkeeping
  • how to cost input and establish selling prices in order to obtain a market and get a fair reward
  • where to establish your market
  • how to source materials
  • buy products from local factories
  • importance of punctuality, dependability, cleanliness, presentation, packaging
  • how to gain a competitive edge
  • how to increase productivity
  • other helpful  organisations
  • invited speakers on sources of finding and starter packs
  • identifying a need
  • customer relations
  • use of tool and equipment hire businesses
  • take advantage of lazy people

You will be given an I.D. card, and when you have completed the course an I.D. clip card as a graduate with a certificate of competence according to the level achieved.

Our motto is;

We are each the architect of our own future. Every person has a duty to themselves, their dependants and society to qualify for self sufficiency and independence.

                                                                                                                                

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