PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The Future Search Project was successfully installed in May, 1993. Management Systems International transferred the capacity to conduct and sustain the programme over time through the selection, training and certification of trainers, the training of staff in participant recruitment and selection, as well as the management and administrative aspects of the programme.

The primary purpose of this programme, in addition to actually counseling and training its target population, was to transfer the capability to conduct and sustain the programme in Zambia. Thus, Future Search Project was designed and implemented not simply as a project, but rather with an eye to creating an on-going, independent and sustainable programme.

The Project Director directs the day-to-day administration and management of the operations of the Project. The Project has a manpower complement of eight (8) academic and five(5) administrative/support staff. External consultants and various financiers for small-scale entrepreneurs supplement this.

THE VISION

The Vision of the Project is to become a sustainable and formidable entity that will ensure a Zambian society with basic behavioral entrepreneurial competences that will enable the citizenry to be self-sustaining and face the future with confidence.

THE MISSION

The Mission is to provide high quality social, business counseling and entrepreneurship training to Zambians to enhance production and productivity through self-employment and job creation thereby alleviating poverty.

Since Inception, the Project has serviced over 41,000 people.

HOW WE CAN HELP YOU

• If you are planning to...
• Start a new business
• Improve your small business
• Invest your resources appropriately
• Looking for a job
• Change your career

...then attend our Future Search Programmes.

THE ROLE OF THE FUTURE SEARCH PROJECT

The Future Search Project, on of Government's social safety nets, was 'born' as a tool to implement an appropriate out placement strategy to channel re-directed public service workers into a productive future. The main role of the Project, as one of the change and transformation agents, is to empower Zambians through social/business counselling, training in job search techniques and entrepreneurship/business development thereby encouraging resilience, forward looking, creativity and ability to cope with unexpected shocks related to loss of formal employment and other negative situations in life.

OUR SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

The Project's specific objectives are:

• To help participants identify the significance of vision, positive mind set and the need for specific goals in order to develop purpose and direction in life after formal employment.
• To help participants recognize entrepreneurial competencies within them to pursue and achieve meaningful objectives in life, and to impart to them the required knowledge and skills that would ensure their success in that process.
• To capacitate the target population to participate more effectively in societal and national development efforts.

FUTURE SEARCH FULFILLS ITS MISSION THROUGH THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMMES:

• SOCIAL/FINANCIAL COUNSELLING
• JOB SEARCH SEMINARS
• ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS
• SMALL BUSINESS AWARENES SEMINARS
• MENTORING PROGRAMME
• HIV/AIDS SENSITISATION