PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT AND SOCIAL AND PROFESSIONAL

COMMUNITY ADAPTATION PLAN FOR ORPHANS

MISSION:

TO EQUIP ORPHANS WITH SOFT SKILLS NECESSARY TO NAVIGATE THE

ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND PERSONAL DEMANDS OF TRANSITION OUT OF THE
ORPHANAGE.

DURATION:

SEGMENT 1:
SEGMENT 2:

8 WEEKS (8 OCTOBER 26 NOVEMBER 2016) SATURDAYS ONLY

8 WEEKS (7 JANUARY 25 FEBRUARY 2017) SATURDAYS ONLY

TOTAL: 16 WEEKS

This project is in response to problems and challenges I have observed that plague orphans when they
are in orphanages which become more pronounced and detrimental to individual growth and social
advancement when these vulnerable children are released from care institutes into the society. Having
grown up in an orphanage myself I have well placed convictions regarding areas where caretakers and
volunteers fall short in obtaining the right responses in motivating and grooming the young children
to make preparations for life beyond the home. As such the primary aim of the project is to address
these shortfalls by initiating and implementing a tripartite course programme where the participants
will initially undergo personality coaching and capacity building trainings and workshops, followed
by informative and engaging discourses on topical issues around the globe and immediate society and
finally getting them involved in entrepreneurial programmes with a lot of practical options to
accustom them to varying degrees of authority and work ethics.
Upon leaving the orphanage the biggest concern is that individuals dematerialise in the society and
fail to make something of their lives. They struggle to survive when life could be so much easier had
some things been addressed or provided for when they had been growing up at the home. Exodus day
is possibly the worst day in the life of many orphans. For most it is the beginning of the end as they
soon realize that their teachers and caregivers are releasing them into an uncertain world where they
are vaguely if at all aware of the situations surrounding and affecting their new environment where
they suddenly don't have the support structures that they had while still in the institute. Most of them
have no academic qualifications and have poor communication skills because they lack confidence.
They cannot generate ideas outside the box because the brain has been dormant for too long and can't
get jobs. In these stages these people fail to realise a larger percentage of their potential. They cannot
fit well into societies and lack basic social training and survival skills. In the end the bulk of orphans
who are churned out of institutions become either Street kids (again), drug addicts, sex slaves,
prostitutes or become involved in criminal activities, trying to survive.
For these reasons it is necessary to implement capacity building trainings, topical lectures and
entrepreneurial workshops in childrens homes to sow hope and build in them a much needed desire to
want to be achievers and more importantly act on those desires. The programme will also mould them
into well socialised citizens with broad knowledge basis that increase their involvement in
development whether at societal or national level.
The course attacks the problem from three different angles, that is 1, The Person, 2, Basic Knowledge
and 3, Entrepreneurship and workplace environment soft skills:
1. (The Person) focus is on capacity building and personality coaching
- Designed to address attitude and esteem problems and help overcome self-worth
concerns. This is central objective of the programme as other aspects of it depend on the
participants understanding their potential and developing the necessary habits that would
help them become involved to reap maximum benefits. Particular personality problems
that are associated with orphans to be addressed in this segment include

Low self-esteem and confidence

Lack of motivation to set and pursue goals
Disconnection from the outside world in terms of basic social knowledge
Poor communication skills
Attitude problems: Have become very comfortable and hence develop passive minds
Victim mentality leading to a general disregard of authority
Always thinking and living in the moment, not planning for the future
Find comfort in group psychology among fellow peers, easily influenced and quick to
catch on negative perceptions about any situation.

2. (Basic Knowledge) Informative lectures on topical global and societal issues constructed
under the theme Our Urban Environment
- This is a part where the participants will be lectured to and encouraged to take part,
discuss and keep up with important contemporary issues across various aspects in the
global village with the chief aim to socialise participants to matters that affect them
directly and indirectly and also to arm them with basic knowledge so that they can adapt
faster in society while being challenged to develop and contribute healthy views and
solutions to address the matters. Some of the curriculum topics include:

The Idea of a city

Environment + Climate change
Citizenship
Conflict resolution
Human Rights
Gender
Ethics
Public Speaking
Digital Media

3. Work experience and basic entrepreneurial training

- In this section the participants will learn basic entrepreneurship skills and
workplace/office soft skills. Those that are old enough (above sixteen) will be temporarily
enrolled in various industries at the end of the specified 16 weeks where they will learn
basic work ethics like how to operate under authority following specific sets of rules.
They will also become socialised to the work-world and build networks that can help
them in the future while also picking up on basic communication skills and learning to
interact on a professional level with other people.
From perfect execution of the above mentioned goals the participants are expected to:
Develop self-belief and confidence
Develop a strong curiosity to learn
Cultivate ideas and see them through
Plan for the future and have the discipline to do what must be done
Obtain better conflict management skills
Gain some work experience or workplace environment soft skills
Grasp basic fundamentals of working under authority and respect that authority
Understand basic communication skills.
With the above skills set participants should emerge after the programme as well-groomed citizens
with the positive minds, determination and burning desire to want to achieve goals beyond their
predicted potentials and prepared to experience a strong transition from orphanage to outside world.

APPROACH
Participants will be engaged on Saturdays for two hours in afternoon sessions
that are divided into two main sections. The first part of each session (30-45
minutes) will focus on personal development topics and capacity building and
may feature individual or group exercises depending on the presenters style.
The second part of the session features discussions on topical societal issues on
various like those indicated in step 2 above. Each topic for either of the sections
can be spread over a maximum of three weeks giving the presenters time to
adequately emphasize on the key notes. The entire programme will run under
the umbrella theme Our Urban Environment because the core business of the
course is to prepare and arm the participants with skills and tools that can help
acquaint them better with the environment and society, encouraging the
generation of ideas that would make them efficient, knowledgeable citizens
when they come of age and have to live their lives. Over the school holidays
older participants; that is those who have less time left in the home will be
extended temporary employment in established industries where they will be
expected to gain some work experience while also attending entrepreneurial
discussions on Saturday afternoon with the rest of the group.
For maximum efficiency the courses will be held away from the orphanages
involved, out of their comfort zones. This will help the participants enhance their
concentration without the usual distractions of a familiar environment.
Contact Info:
Promesse Masvosve
Mobile: +263 784 895 673
Email: p.masvosve@gmail.com
Nyasha Chidzero
Mobile: +263785 699 785
Email: nyasha.chidzero@gmail.com