AKAZI KANOZE, Youth Livelihoods Project PHONE: (+250) (0)252 580 796/805/806, FAX: (+250) (0)252 580 797; P.O. BOX: 2498 Kigali/Rwanda, http://edc.org/ and http://akazikanoze.edc.org/ YOUTH WORK READINESS CURRICULUM The Rwandan Youth Work Readiness Curriculum has been developed to provide youth with the foundational skills and knowledge necessary to become healthy, productive workers and participants in civic and community affairs. Within the AKAZI KANOZE: Youth Livelihoods Development project, this workforce readiness curriculum serves as a foundation for youth participating in programs offered by Rwandan youth-serving organizations that provide demanddriven education and skills training and livelihood opportunities. It has been designed in a way that is participatory, active and hands-on so that the youth are actively engaged in the learning process, have the opportunity to practice and enhance new skills and gain the self confidence necessary to find and keep work. The main topics of the curriculum include: 1. Personal Development: identifying values & interests; assessing attributes & skills; identifying learning styles & learning strategies; goal setting, planning & tracking progress 2. Interpersonal Communication: speaking and listening; following and giving instructions and feedback; forms of communication in the workplace; cooperating/working as a team member; providing good customer service 3. Work Habits and Conduct: identifying and applying for jobs (writing applications, cv s, cover letters, thank you letters); interviewing; workplace behaviors and attitudes; time management; balancing work and home life 4. Leadership: characteristics of an effective leader; leadership styles; organizing and motivating others; team building; leading others in problem solving and conflict resolution 5. Safety and Health at Work: Rwanda health and safety laws and practices; identifying and avoiding hazards in the workplace; responding to emergencies and accidents; basic first aid; healthy lifestyles; stress management 6. Worker and Employer Rights and Responsibilities: Rwandan labor code; workers rights: benefits, labor laws 7. Financial Literacy: managing money; saving; budgeting; how financial institutions work; making financial decisions 8. Market Literacy: the cycle of business; entrepreneurship skills; planning for unexpected events; financial record-keeping; marketing; negotiating; adding value to products For each of these main areas, the desired outcomes for program participants, key skills taught and specific topics covered are summarized in the Curriculum Overview table below.
Overview Curriculum Personal Development Participants understand their own personal values, strengths and areas of challenge or weakness and are able to effectively use or address them; are able to develop, implement and evaluate progress toward personal goals; know their preferred way of learning, take initiative for learning new skills, and know how to monitor own learning progress. Self reflection Assessing Goal-setting Planning Tracking personal progress Identifying values & interests Identifying and assessing skills and attributes Setting goals Developing personal development plans Assessing one s learning style Learning strategies Setting learning goals and developing plans Tracking progress Interpersonal Communications Program participants are able to communicate and get along well with others, in a variety of settings and for a range of purposes. One-on- one and in groups, they can speak and listen actively and appropriately. They are able to cooperate and work effectively within a group. They also are able to provide good Listening Speaking Cooperating Working in a team Giving and receiving feedback Providing good customer Listening skills and strategies Recognizing non-verbal communication Listening to and giving instructions Seeking clarification Speaking with clarity Communication in the workplace Do s and don ts of communications Personalities and styles within a group How to cooperate and work as a team member 2
customer service. service Working with others to achieve individual and group goals Identifying and practice good customer service skills Work Habits and Conduct Participants know how to apply for and present themselves for employment. They demonstrate good time management and show up for work on time. They demonstrate behavior and attitudes that are appropriate for the workplace and understand that workplaces have policies and procedures that need to be followed. They take initiative and responsibility for their own work and know how to work under and respect supervision. Identifying and applying for jobs: filling in applications and writing resumes, cover letters & thank you letters Interviewing techniques Behaving appropriately at work Managing time Managing home and work life Finding employment information Filling in a job application Writing a resume and cover letter Interviewing techniques and follow up Workplace behavior and attitudes Time management Balancing work and home life 3
Leadership Participants are able to define and demonstrate the characteristics and behaviors of an effective leader. They recognize that there are different leadership styles and take this into account as they lead and assist others. Participants are able to motivate and organize others, and can guide sound problem solving and decision making processes. They are able to lead a team in accomplishing their goals. Organizing Motivating Encouraging participation Guiding others Communicating Team building Problem solving Decision-making Qualities of an effective leader Styles of leadership Leading team work / group cooperation Steps in problem-solving Developing REAL (realistic, effective, acceptable and logical) solution Task leadership Safety and Health at Work Participants are familiar with standard health and safety practices and regulations in the workplace and can identify unsafe situations. They know how to respond to emergencies and accidents and are familiar with basic first aid. Healthy habits Identifying and avoiding hazards Responding to emergencies Understanding health and safety regulations Good health habits Hygiene and sanitation Hazards in the workplace Being prepared with equipment and clothing Preventing accidents Basic first aid Rwanda health and safety laws and practices 4
Worker and Employer Rights and Responsibilities Participants are familiar with the rights and responsibilities of workers and employers and have explored ways to exercise rights in the workplace. Identifying rights and responsibilities Exercising rights and responsibilities Rwandan Labor Code (key points) Appropriate ways to take action at work Financial Literacy Participants understand principles and tools behind personal and family moneymanagement. They are able to understand the importance of saving and reducing expenses. They are able to organize and manage personal and household finances. They can create a personal budget and think strategically about their finances. They can evaluate their options for earning money and are familiar with ways to establish and maintain personal credit. They are aware of the risks associated with credit. Analyzing financial needs Analyzing expenses Personal budget development Understanding financial institutions Planning for their future Need for finance Good principles of financial management Decreasing spending Importance of saving Buying and selling on credit Managing debt Recordkeeping and budgeting Creating personal financial budgets Understanding and working with financial services institutions Banking basics and ATMs Financial planning for the future 5
Market Literacy Participants simulate incomegenerating activities after which they are familiar with the basic cycles of business. They can plan for income-generating activity expenses and loan repayments. They can keep basic business financial records. They are able to evaluate the risks and opportunities of using credit in income generating contexts. They are able to distinguish between money to be used for investment into their incomegenerating activities, for their family expenses, and for savings. They learn about different market actors. Planning Marketing Negotiating Working in a team Dealing with unexpected events Exploring income generating options Income allocation between personal expenses, income generating-related expenses and savings Adding value to products and services Planning and dealing with unexpected personal and (self)employment events Adding value to products and services Buying and selling on credit Importance of reinvesting into your income-generating activities 6