Answers

Will you offer just work experience, without the ‘learning’?

The Grasshopper Foundation — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 20:16:27 +0000

Students will be able to apply for either a specific course (see Courses) or for specific Work Experience. However all Students will be expected to participate fully in the on-the-job training. The environment of the Opportunity Centre will be designed to support the adoption of good work habits and specific work skills such as ‘Teamwork'.

In addition, there will be elective courses available but not all students will be required to undertake electives.

Where will the money come from?

The Grasshopper Foundation — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 20:10:03 +0000

There will be 4 sources of funds coming into the Grasshopper Foundation and its various projects.

Each business within the project will be set up to be profitable, and such profits will be passed back to the Foundation.
We will be applying for certain grants from local and central government. As the dust settles on the Government cuts and redistribution, there will be continued support available for certain sectors and getting young people into work will be one. This would apply to the Opportunity Centres.
The Foundation will be fund-raising in a number of ways including seeking individual benefactors.
We will be looking for corporate sponsors for students of Opportunity Centres. One of the target markets for the Challenge would also be corporate incentives and social responsibility, however this money would be for Challenge tour participation, whereby the profits of the Challenge operation would be then directed to the communities we are helping overseas as well as some back to the Foundation.

Is this just a method of getting cheap labour?

The Grasshopper Foundation — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 20:08:55 +0000

No, the fact that students do not get paid a full income for their efforts is entirely offset against the fees and costs they would have to pay for the environment, experience and training they will receive simply by being part of an Opportunity Centre. Time working within the Work Experience role will be limited by the length of the course or courses they are undertake.

Where do the young people participants come from? What age? What level of education?

The Grasshopper Foundation — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 20:07:56 +0000

Students can apply to join the Opportunity Centre and obtain the training when they leave full-time education, whether that be school, college or even university. We are not proposing to be an alternative to higher education, but a supplement to help young people transition between education and a fulfilling working life.

When will the first Opportunity Centre open?

The Grasshopper Foundation — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 20:07:12 +0000

Opportunity Centres will combine an operating business with learning facilities. This means we will have to either establish a fast start business or take over the management of an existing business. We are currently talking to several businesses and will post developments through this site and our Fan Pages on Facebook. Watch this space.

When will the first Challenge take place?

The Grasshopper Foundation — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 20:06:28 +0000

We are targeting to send the first Challenge out towards the end of the summer or early autumn this year. Why, do you have a group of people interested in hopping onboard? Do let us know…

When will the Thai children’s facility open?

The Grasshopper Foundation — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 20:05:47 +0000

…keep an eye on our posts on this site and Facebook…

Are you competing with Universities or higher education?

The Grasshopper Foundation — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 20:05:01 +0000

No. We fit in as part of the transition from full time education to a fulfilling working life.

How do I get in touch with the Foundation?

The Grasshopper Foundation — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 18:40:42 +0000

You can contact us by dropping us a quick note from our Contact Us page or email us at theresa@grasshopperfoundation.com or terry@grasshopperfoundation.com.

What age do you take participants for the Opportunity?

The Grasshopper Foundation — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 18:02:09 +0000

The age range of the students will be 18 to 25.