Regular Class
For the sixth term of the VTC we were able to open 13 classes consisting of 2 Sewing Classes, 6 Computer Classes and 5 English Classes with a total of 218 students, starting on January 20th until mid of April 2014.
At the beginning of this term, we explained to the students that if they could not attend 75 % of the classes, they would not be entitled to receive the VTC certificate. After 3 months of classes, we held a final exam for 2 weeks in early April consisting of written and practical tests. In the end, a total of 191 students out of 218 students were entitled to receive the certificate.
Workshops
The Job Seeking Skills workshop was held 3 times for 105 participants, consisting of VTC and non VTC students and discussed about; How to make an Application Letter and a Curriculum Vitae; Job Interview; and Knowledge and Skills needed by Companies. The workshops aim to help the participants prepare for facing the highly competitive working world.
Besides that, we noticed that the majority of the mothers who bring their toddlers to the YUM pre-school were waiting for the end of classes without have much to do. Because of this, the idea rose to include these waiting mothers in a new workshop: The Women Empowerment Workshop. We offered to train them in making recycled products by hand such as pouches and bags made from plastic waste of coffee packaging. All the mothers showed their interest in this workshop.
At the same time, YUM conducted a survey in which the community’s needs were assessed. Out of the 47 respondents, we found that 32 respondents or 68.08 % of the respondents were interested to follow a cooking class (food or snacks processing) in order to increase their income and help them to find work.
The cooking classes were included in The Women Empowerment Workshop, besides making recycled products. We started this workshop as a pilot project with the 15 mothers who bring their children to the pre-school. The workshop is held once a month for 2 hours and has been held now for 6 times. YUM provides the material and the tutor, and after that the group will continue to make the products themselves, supervised by the tutor. The workshops ran smoothly and they could even earn some money by selling their products. We have good faith that the project will be sustainable as it is both for and from the women.
VTC Renovations
Thanks to Priscilla Hall Memorial Foundation (PHMF) we could renovate the VTC building, which had served for more than 30 years. The renovations started mid-April, after the classes and final exam finished. Initially, we were only planning to repair the roof and replace some of the doors and window frames. But by the time the renovations began, we found out that other window frames also needed to be replaced as well as some broken windowpanes, and we also decided to fix the ceiling and paint the walls. These additional works make the renovation longer than planned, but hopefully it will be finished before the seventh term starts. Thank you!!!
Since 2009, YUM Vocational Training Center (VTC) Cipanas has been helping more than 2.000 participants through Computer class, English class, Sewing class, Hospitality class and Job Seeking Skills workshop. Participants encompass Elementary until Senior high school students and especially unemployed youths in the area of YUM Cipanas, West Java.
Through this report, we would like to give you - as a donor of VTC - some testimonials from the participants (not their real names) about the VTC, so you can get a further insight in the project you have helped. Hopefully you will enjoy the report and may you continue your support to the VTC. Thank you.
Ami
As a housewife with 2 children, Ami has been participating in the Sewing Class for the last 6 months in order to learn how to sew clothes and arts and crafts products. She wants to gain soft skills which may help her to find a job, as her husband is just a farmer with only Rp. 15.000,- or $ 1 income per day. In the beginning, she felt unconfident because she didn’t have any experience in sewing, but thanks to sewing tutors who are very patient, she is now able to make her children’s clothes by herself. She earns an additional income when YUM has a special order from a Jakarta costumer or by assisting the tutor in teaching sewing to junior students.
“I regret I didn’t follow the class earlier, sewing class is really helping me,” Ami said.
Amar
“After I graduated from Vocational School, I tried to apply for a job in some companies, but never succeeded. I remember when the Human Resources Department staff gave me the question: ‘What kind of skills do you have?’ I got confused because I didn’t have any skills. I just graduated from Vocational School and only had knowledge of Hospitality. After sharing with my friends who were accepted in the company, they informed me that they had taken additional classes at the VTC. For that reason I decided to follow the Computer Class and after I graduated from the VTC, I was accepted to work in one of the best hotels in Cipanas – the Palace Hotel. Thanks to VTC I was able to understand how important it is to have other soft skills since the graduation certificate from school is not enough to convince the company. Currently, with the income received from working at the hotel, I can help my parents who only work as construction laborers. Thank you VTC.”
Adi
“I felt that school and attending classes were boring activities and not interesting. However, since I joined the English Class and the Computer Class in VTC, I changed my mind. My motivation has improved because I realized that the competition in the job market is getting harder nowadays, especially if we don’t have any experiences or soft skills. I decided to take 2 training classes because most of the companies need employees who can speak English and have computer skills. That’s why I was eager to learn about the world of work and after joining the VTC and discussing with my friends and tutors, I finally got to know my passion. In VTC, we learn in a fun way. Currently, I work as a waiter in Palace Hotel, one of the best hotels in Cipanas and hopefully I can increase my skills and knowledge in Hospitality.”
At this end of year 2013, the YUM Vocational Training Center (VTC) has just finished its fifth term by conducting theory and practical tests for all the students. Through 17 classes (which consists of 4 sewing classes, 6 English classes, 6 computer classes and 1 hospitality class), the number of graduating students reached up to 225 and were all entitled to receive the VTC certificate and get 100 % of their deposit refund. We also recently conducted 3 Job Seeking Skills Workshop for 78 participants from VTC’s students and the community around us. In these workshops, they learned how to make an application letter and a curriculum vitae; techniques, tricks & tips to face a job interview; and also about the industry's perspective in employee recruitment. Those who came for the 3 sessions (around 49 participants) were entitled to receive the certificate. These skills are needed because most of the community around YUM Cipanas does not understand how to apply for a job due to a lack of information or lack of access to this information.
Two sewing workshops were also conducted: one about art and craft products presented by Ms. Diani, a trainer with House of Lawe from Yogyakarta for 10 participants; and the second about the skill of stitching and bag making process which was presented by Ms. Whitney Riley, owner of Stitched, Inc. from America for 6 participants. Hopefully through these workshops, we can help all the participants to learn more about making products that can be sold to increase their income and fulfill their family needs.
Good news also came from the Priscilla Hall Memorial Foundation (PHMF) – VTC’s main donor – who has agreed to add 5 new computers and upgrade the 4 existing computers for VTC. New computers and equipment such as chairs, tables were purchased to complete these facilities. Luckily, we have 2 internship students from a Technical Vocational School in Cipanas and Pak Deden, our Computer Tutor, who helped our VTC Administrator - Andi - to install the computers for the new term in January 2014. Thanks to the new computers, for the next term, we will be able to accommodate 20 students in each class compared to 15 students during previous terms since the Computer class is the most favorite class in VTC due to computers being a very necessary skill nowadays.
We also had the pleasure of welcoming Mr. Don Hall from PHMF who came with Mr. Mike Hilliard from Mama Sayang on Friday, December 20th, 2013 to see YUM Cipanas, VTC’s facilities, the new computers and to discuss the VTC’s improvements. Mr. Hall helped to give the certificates to the VTC students and met some students, administrator and teachers during his visit. It is thanks to PHMF that the VTC is able to run very smoothly for the last 2 years and hopefully, we will continue our cooperation next year to help more disadvantaged youths and communities around YUM Cipanas.
Also, many thanks to all of YUM VTC’s supporters, donors, visitors, friends, partners and many more that helped YUM VTC Cipanas in 2013. These achievements cannot be reached without your help. We promise to always try our best to help disadvantaged youths and communities around us to gain more skills, not only to help them find a job but also to increase their quality of life through education.
Thank You So Much! Merry Christmas! Happy New Year 2014! Happy Holidays!!!
