A local church project that empowers young and unemployed mothers recently gained extra momentum, seeing the women gain valuable practical experience in local restaurants.
A local church project that empowers young and unemployed mothers recently gained extra momentum, seeing the women gain valuable practical experience in local restaurants.
The Beedz project for single, unemployed mothers under the age of 25 has been run by the River of Life Church since 2005. Programme director Pastor Debbie Sloan said it aims to teach the women practical skills and make them more employable.
One of the volunteers who gives time and knowledge to train the Beedz women is Jenny Gird, the owner and manager of Haricot's Deli and Bistro in New Street. During the first two weeks of this month, two groups of five women had the opportunity to train for a two-week stint at Haricot's.
They had their first opportunity to work there on a rotational system, with each woman gaining experience in the deli, kitchen and in the restaurant as waitresses.
Events and marketing manager at the restaurant Denese Palm feels that the bistro is the perfect place for learning.
“This place has a philosophy that is empowering and warm, and sometimes I think that comes before profit!” she said, adding that she hopes for their involvement in the project to continue. She said it has won her support because it provides the women with a voice, not only in the bistro and in the programme, but in their communities too.
“We always teach them business and marketing skills in the course, but being able to work at Haricot's gives them the practical experience that they will need when they gain fruitful employment,” Sloan said.
Along with Haricot's, Café Delizzia in High Street has jumped aboard the project and employed four women from the Beedz project for the duration of the Arts Festival.
The Beedz project takes on 10 women for eight weeks at a time, according to Sloan, and intends to equip the women with skills such as baking, beading, catering and using English as a second language.
The project has had hundreds of successful graduates, who are each awarded a certificate of achievement following their successful completion of the course.
