The new Ford Resource and Engagement Centre, slated to open in October, will be located near Ford's Silverton Assembly Plant outside of Pretoria, South Africa. It is the second resource centre of its kind created by Ford Fund, the philanthropic branch of Ford Motor Company, and is modelled after the original Ford Resource and Engagement Centre in Southwest Detroit.
The new centre marks the first international expansion of the successful project Ford Fund launched to bring nonprofit community services together in a collaborative environment. Ford will invest more than R2m annually in job training there.
Ford is joining with Future Families, a South Africa-based nonprofit that provides services to families and orphans affected by HIV and AIDS, in operating the new centre. The organisation will create a range of training packages designed to prepare clients for finding jobs after graduating from Ford Resource and Engagement Centre. Courses will include career guidance and presentation skills, financial literacy, business and entrepreneurial skills, as well as training for vocational and technical jobs such as plumbing, caregiving, computer and office work.
In South Africa, Ford Fund programmes add to economic investments the company is making in the region. Last month, Ford announced it is investing $170m to expand operations at Silverton Assembly Plant by adding production of the all-new Ford Everest SUV - a move that will create 1,200 new jobs.
Ford Fund's investment in the new centre will total more than R11.5m over five years. Over the next five years, Ford Fund will expand its education scholarships, grants and training programmes across the continent, as well as bring additional Driving Skills for Life, Volunteer Corps and other community improvement projects to Africa.
