AMCARE uplifts the community

NEWMARKET – AS part of their skills training programme, the AMCARE Centre of Faith, Hope and Love in New Market Park offers a once-a-month, three-week catering course with the specific purpose of offering students an opportunity to better their own circumstances and those of the people around them.

Says Sandra Human, Skills Trainer Catering: “AMCARE’s approach has always been to give a hand-up, not a hand-out, and students completing this course are quite able to go from here and start their own catering facility in their communities.”

The Catering Facility at AMCARE is in the process of getting SETA (Sector Education and Training Authority) accreditation and is fast becoming a sought after facility, also for companies in need of staff training.

“Because we offer hands-on training where our students work with us in the kitchen, preparing platters, baking biscuits and making light meals for our existing clients, the students are improving their skills on a daily basis,” explains Sandra.

The training course includes aspects such as planning, buying, costing, preparing and serving. During the three weeks, students are given homework and assignments to complete, and only when they successfully complete an exam, do they receive their certificate.

“We are very proud of some of the success stories of our students,” Sandra says. “Several of our past students have started their own catering businesses in the neighbouring community and is now earning a steady income and able to look after themselves and their families.”

Companies with staff in their canteens, or their tea ladies who are in need of further training, can send them for either the three-week course or a one-week crash course. You can contact Sandra direct on 083 990 0212.

How can you help:

* Financial contributions to AMCARE enable them to offer the catering course to the less fortunate in our communities.

* The sponsorship of starter packs – these starter packs are given to students once they successfully complete their exams and consist of items such as flour, sugar, baking powder, icing sugar, salt, eggs, and bicarbonate.

How companies and businesspeople can benefit by contributing:

* AMCARE is registered as a Public Benefit Organisation with SARS and can issue section 18A certificates, which qualifies you for tax relief.

* The Socio-economic Development element of the BBBEE scorecard gives acknowledgment to companies for supporting initiatives that help 75 per cent or more black beneficiaries gain sustainable access to the economy. These contributions can be monetary or non-monetary in nature. The profile of AMCARE’S beneficiary community can benefit your company’s BBBEE scorecard by 25 weighting points. AMCARE will provide you with an affidavit certifying the beneficiary community.

AMCARE’S is situated at 15 Heidelberg Road, corner of Ascot Road, New Market Park, Alberton, PO Box 36, Alberton, 1450. You can also visit their website www.amcare.org.za for more information.