Programs

EDUCATION & TRAINING

Vocational Skills Centre

The FDNC Innovative Talents Vocational Skills Training Center has grown rapidly in recent years, now employing 11 qualified staff members, and housed in four buildings, including 10 classrooms, offices, a library, and more. Its programs are designed to meet the training needs of local youth while simultaneously addressing the economic needs of the region. All of the school's programs are listed below. Fees are kept to a minimum in order to accommodate as many needy youth as possible. Through a combination of school fees, boarder fees, and income generation activities, the school is moving towards 100% sustainability by July of 2008. The school’s class offerings are listed below:

• Arts & Crafts


In this new 1-year certificate program, students will learn the elements of art, principles of design, color theory, and basic drawing. They will also learn painting, collage, mosaic, ceramics, sculpture, and graphics. Students will produce several forms of crafts, such as hats, mats, bags, and wall decorations, from local materials like banana fibers, natural dyes, bark cloth, sisal, etc. Upon completion, graduates are prepared to work as artists in their own capacities.


• Carpentry


In this 2-year certificate program, students learn carpentry theory including types of tools, tool care and maintenance, and tool assembly and repair. They learn technical skills including sketching, taking measurements, planing, cutting, various types of joinery, and furniture assembly. In their practicals, students make tables, chairs, desks, doors, and roofing frames. Upon completion, graduates are prepared to start their own carpentry workshops.


• Computers


In this 1-year certificate program, students receive a complete introduction to the computer and the Windows operating system. They learn several software packages, including Microsoft Word and Excel. Students learn basics of computer maintenance and how to use the Internet. Finally, students apply their knowledge and skills by creating business letters, advertisements, and identity cards. Upon completion, graduates are prepared to work in secretarial bureaus, offices, or begin their own business.


• Hairdressing


To begin in the third trimester of 2007.


• Masonry


In this 2-year certificate program, students learn theory including types of bricks and tiles, types and classes of tools and their uses, and maintenance and care for tools. In their practicals, students learn to manufacture bricks, manufacture cement and lime, excavate, set a building, render and plaster, build columns, construct several types of walls, ensure that surfaces are level and plumb, lay tiles, add finishes on a building, interpret architectural plans, and ration building materials. Upon completion, graduates are prepared to work as contractors in the building trades.


• Sustainable Agriculture


In this new 1-year certificate program, also known as organic farming, students will learn both principles and practices of farming. Areas of instruction include: soil and water conservation, soil fertility, vegetable gardening, agro-chemicals, pesticides, food processing and preservation, livestock management, and more. Upon completion, graduates are prepared to run an integrated sustainable agriculture enterprise.


• Tailoring


In this 1-year certificate program, students learn basic tailoring skills including sketching, stitching, pattern cutting, pedal sewing machine operation and machine maintenance. During the course of the program, students learn to sew a sport shirt, standard tunic shirt, Kaunda suit shirt, butterfly shirt, fashion blouse, trousers, sport shorts, pleated shorts, nursery uniform, school uniform, wrapper skirt, pencil skirt, choir gown, Gomese, apron and overalls. Upon completion, graduates are prepared to work in a tailoring workshop or teach tailoring in a limited capacity

Back to Programs