Nathan Feliz and Dr. Warner Woodworth, Business Management

The focus of my research was to observe the process of economic development at the grassroots level in Southern Africa. In Capetown, South Africa I found an organization that was working closely with marginalized youth in the townships and squatters camps. The Center For Opportunity Development (COD) works with youth, (ages 18-35), teaching business skills. The Center For Opportunity Development had just changed to a new approach of more practical learning when I joined with them. Instead of spending more time in the class room the thought was to get the students out working more. Each student would spend a week in class room training followed by a four week period of working in a co-op derived from the students in the class. The co-ops decided upon a business venture and then started a business. The staff of COD would assist them through the whole project.

One of my main interests was to see the difference between a theoretical approach to teaching entrepreneurial skills verses a hands on approach. During the Apartheid years South Africa saw a swelling of Non Government Organizations (NGOs) in the individual communities. In recent years the Joint Enrichment Project counted over 35O NGOs that dealt specifically with youth. These organizations provide for social welfare needs and purport to teach life and community skills for youth. Research has shown that these supposed programs do not in fact teach or develop the skills they claim to teach. The majority of these organizations are based on a theoretical teaching.

A consequence of the Apartheid system in South Africa left many of the black community with the feeling that they were limited in what they could do for a career. Education had been limited to certain subjects since blacks would never have a need to use the other subjects such as chemistry or math. Most of the black community felt their only hope was now with a new black government that would be give them jobs. The reality is that jobs are not just handed out, consequently the Western Cape unemployment rate is over 40%.

During one of the courses I discussed with the students different types of business opportunities that are possibly available in their township. Two ideas were put forward and everyone agreed that these were their only options. I then suggested a few ideas I had seen while on my way to class that morning. In order for them to think independently I had each student write their own ideas on paper listing five business ideas. Each student then read their list out loud. The lists had all the same business ideas, with a possible exception one idea per student. The students merely repeated the ideas that I had suggested, After a little work I was able to get them to start thinking of their own new ideas. The key I found was to establish an atmosphere of discussion rather than a teacher student relationship.

While teaching I often encountered times that learning was impeded by the language barrier. All the students had learned English in school yet there were many concepts they did not understand in English. I learned that the best way to make sure that the students were grasping the concepts was to have one or several of the students reteach the concepts that I had just finished teaching. Real learning is greatly facilitated by the process of hands on experience. After the week course of intensive theoretical learning the students begin a process of learning by doing. Co-op groups were organized of about six students. The group then decides upon a name and a product that they would sell. Targets were set for the next four weeks. The co-op phase is a period of time that the students are able to put into practice the theory that they have just teamed. During this period a mentor is assigned to the group to aid them in their business venture. The role of the mentor is not to run the co-op but rather to help with useful suggestions along the way and to make sure that the students are correlating theory with practice.

Given the educational background of the participants, their English language deficiencies and their initial lack of self-confidence, the co-op approach is most effective. Working together on these projects forms a sense of unity and camaraderie among the group members while facilitating the feeling of being able to succeed among the individual members. Students often remarked that they were surprised to find that starting a business venture is relatively easy and that they can succeed.

Success in any program like this is hard to determine. On the first day of the course a test is given to determine the level of business knowledge. On the last day of the course another test is given and scores are compared. The average increase in scores is about fifty percent. A problem with this type of methodology is it only shows what they can repeat on paper. The real challenge is if they succeed in the market place by having enough money to feed their families.

To help overcome the feeling that success was reserved for the whites I started a mentor program from the community. Spending time in the townships I found many individuals that had started their own businesses and had succeeded. These mentors would come talk with the students about their successes. These talks always seemed to give the students hope that they could also accomplish anything they worked hard at. Soon our own students were returning with their success stories to the future groups.

Self-reliance of the individual in each community is the key to success of economic development in Southern African communities. I was able to help an organization that works in the communities to develop a system to teach business skills in the townships an shanty towns. We were able to watch students feel success as they started realizing profits in their businesses. With each success the individual started to feel a sense of pride in accomplishing what seemed to be impossible before to them. Many individuals were helped, the organization that I volunteered at greatly benefitted, and I gained innumerably experiences in learning and working in townships in South Africa.