Abstract

It is the vision of “Out of the Box” to build a Skills School and Centre in Gauteng to teach skills, art and craft, to create small businesses, create jobs and market the qualified and skilled people with their new found skills, art and craft.  The School and Centre will be a major tourist attraction to visitors from all over the world. The skills with which students will be equipped, will qualify them to produce services or works of art and craft to sell to the domestic, tourist and international market. Skills being taught will include beadwork, wirework, woodwork, leatherwork, glass, ceramics, sewing, papermaking, jewellery design and making, candle making, soap making, basket weaving, painting, basic literacy and life skills. It is common knowledge that South Africa has a huge number of disabled, unemployed, unskilled, and uneducated people who are unable to earn a living or sustain themselves or their families. Statistics show that there are 4.6 million unemployed people in our county. The majority of them are desperate to learn and to improve their lives. Fortunately, skills, art and craft can be taught to all people as no special talent or level of education is needed. Anyone who is motivated, willing and enthusiastic enough can learn to master a valuable skill at the Out of the Box Skills School and Centre and all the courses are designed to ease the learning process for disabled people. The same courses will be used to teach prisoners in the rehabilitation facility various skills and crafts.