Results of recent studies on the importance of soft skills indicate that the single most important soft skill for a job candidate to possess is interpersonal skills, followed by the ability to negotiate and resolve conflict and written or verbal communication skills. In order to further increase our members' employability, FUNDI has developed a soft skills role play training program which addresses the key challenges faced by our members when seeking work.
Unemployment in South Africa is currently estimated to be as high as 40% with areas that have an 80%+ unemployment rate. Jobs are desperately needed and FUNDI exists to help connect those looking for casual labor positions with potential employers. This project will provide FUNDI members with the soft skills necessary to help them secure employment, ideally on a more permanent basis. The training takes place in small groups on the side of the road, at work or in structured training sessions.
Studies suggest that 75% of long term job success depends on people skills and only 25% on technical skills. Because of the cultural divide between many of the laborers seeking work and those who can employ them, the need for soft skills training is even greater. This training is provided by the FUNDI field workers and will enhance the members' work performance, resulting in more or longer-term work opportunities and stronger recommendations from employers.
The training will result in more work opportunities, longer-term work engagements, and stronger recommendations from employers. This will enable the members to better support themselves and their families, thus leading to a decrease in poverty and, ultimately, safer, more productive communities. The problem that will be lessened is unemployment/underemployment and truly all South Africans will be affected by this.
This project has provided additional documentation in a Microsoft Word file (projdoc.doc).
