” An adult’s motivation for further training and development is based on a desire to move towards a closer version of themselves, ”  said Rhoda van Schalkwyk as she shared some of the findings of her research on workplace literacy.
Staff and volunteers met for an informative workshop facilitated by Rhoda during December to explore ways of ensuring continuous improvement in achieving our goal of equipping people to live meaningful lives.
Working with the unemployed from vulnerable communities we have the opportunity to draw people into a world which is technological, textualised and continually developing.
Improving communication skills facilitates the process whereby the vulnerable find their voice leading to the empowerment to take agency for the self – not to just say yes, but to engage critically with the world, and business in particular.
Rhoda suggested that this could only be effectively achieved if workplace attitudes and behaviours are modelled humbly – as she says “with our shoes off, respecting the adulthood of the learner”.
One can consider the quote “Never underestimate the intelligence of your audience, but never overestimate its knowledge”.
She reflected that the benefit of the training process is personally significant to learners as it speaks to the identity; and that the object of learning is the being and not the content being learnt.
Interviews held with candidates attending the Job Readiness programme confirmed 
that the process being followed at FCD was leading to learners taking agency of their own lives, increase in confidence, development of a narrative for the future, empowerment and that intervention is a stimulus for intellectual development.
She concluded by referring to Maslow’s quote on self-actualization “What a man can be, he must be.”
This was followed by an inspiring time of networking as each volunteer had the opportunity to share their heart and highlight valuable insights about the Life Skills modules they are responsible for training.
Anita Grove encourages learners to draw an image reflecting themselves and record some praise and petition pointers for prayer during the Who Am I session, before she shares a clip of Louis Giglio’s video of How Great is Our God.
Leilanie Gertse uses the fingers on a hand to demonstrate various feelings and attitudes while discussing Life Stories. She reminds learners that what has happened matters less than what is going to happen next.
Denise Burgess places a strong emphasis on the biblical principles of sowing and reaping and honoring your parents when she facilitates Relationships.
Natalie van Zyl gives an effective and practical demonstration of communication by focusing on the communication pie-chart showing just how important body language and tone of voice are in relation to the words that are being used.
Hans Human reminded us of the challenges of training in a culturally diverse world. He cautions facilitators to forget their perfect offering and realise that there is a crack in everything. This theory links strongly to Rhoda’s earlier reflection of the need to discuss the ambiguities of life.
Danielle Jones received applause for helping all of us to achieve clarity about the modules covering basic conditions of employment and labor relations. She highlighted how she explains the progression of a problem through the CCMA, moving from conciliation, mediation to arbitration. Danielle’s intimate relationship with the Lord encourages her to remind learners that if God has created them with a unique fingerprint, He surely has something unique and wonderful in store for each of us.
Witnessing the passion and love of Christ flowing from each volunteer was a genuinely humbling experience and confirmed that we are indeed standing on the shoulders of giants as each of us goes about doing our little bit in the world.  Reminding us yet again of the awesome privilege we have of being called to serve God in this way – Ephesians 2v10 “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
