Entrepreneurial development through non-formal adult education and skills training in a rural community

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT:In recent years unemployment figures in South Africa have reached alarming proportions. Manypeople do not have any form of income, and many others rely on irregular incomes from seasonalwork. Education of adults has been highlighted as a possibility for teaching people various skills,which they could apply to generate an income for themselves. This research was conducted byfollowing a participatory action research method to determine whether a nonformal adult educationprogramme would assist individuals in generating an income.The literature review to support the research conducted included a discussion on poverty, ruralareas and their development, and the relevance of entrepreneurial development for these areas.From here, the focus of the literature review moved to that of adult education as applied in trainingprogrammes. Participatory Action Research (PAR) and its role in a nonformal adult educationprogramme is discussed, followed by a discussion of empowerment. The monitoring andevaluation of these programmes are also described.The Development and Advancement of Rural Entrepreneurship (DARE) is a programme that waslaunched in 2000 by the Department of Consumer Science: Foods, Clothing, Housing at theUniversity of Stellenbosch. The main focus of this programme is the assistance given to ruralcommunities to assist them in addressing the problem of unemployment and poverty, by providingsupport and training to potential local entrepreneurs.The rural town of Montagu was identified to conduct a nonformal adult education programme,focusing on skills training and entrepreneurial development of interested individuals in thecommunity. The research period lasted 14 months. The programme itself consisted of differentprojects that concentrated on skills training suitable for income generation. People from thecommunity were invited to attend the programme, making all participation voluntary. A PARapproach to present training skills was followed. Each PAR cycle consisted of four stages, namelyplanning, action, observation, reflection, as well as the revised plan which forms the first phase ofthe next plan. This approach ensures maximum involvement of participants. Empowerment levelsof participants were measured using a standardised questionnaire with a pre- and post- testdesign. One of the PAR cycles included a five-day business course. Different aspects ofentrepreneurship were addressed during the programme and eventually all the skills werecombined and implemented to assist in the generation of income.Data of the empowerment levels of participants, and general information on the participants andtheir evaluation of the programme are documented as case studies. This data was also used toevaluate the success of the programme. The analysis of the data clearly shows that there was a need for skills development andentrepreneurial development in this rural area. Participants were eager to take part in theprogramme and to apply their skills in the market place where they displayed the skills they haveacquired. Those participants who completed the programme all demonstrated an increase in theirempowerment levels, the most significant increase on micro level.The research results indicated that participants were able to apply the knowledge and skills gainedduring the programme. However, four months after the completion of the programme none ofthem were involved in income-generation ventures. Despite the fact that the need for trainingexisted in this rural area, sustainability was problematic once the facilitator withdrew. It is thereforerecommended that novice entrepreneurs should have long-term guidance and emotional supportin order to reach independence eventually.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University