Make Projects

Job readiness program: in order to build the confidence and job skills of our immigrant and refugee participants, Make Projects offers an eight to twelve week job readiness program in a restaurant and urban farm training platform. Participants have the opportunity to gain real, paid work experience that goes on their resume and helps them learn skills that they could apply to future jobs, build their confidence and communication skills and learn cultural norms of the working environment in the united states. This experience is vital in helping participants secure a job after graduating from Make Projects job readiness program. This applied learning environment is very beneficial for lower literacy refugee and immigrant women who are not familiar with classroom based learning and different cultural norms. Participants in the job readiness program are paid minimum wage while being trained on the job in a real world setting by Make Projects staff. All the participants work on site at the restaurant and farm located at 3725 30th street in san diego, California, subsequently relocated to 2920 university avenue in san diego, California. As an organization, 75 percent of our staff time is allocated to these activities. The program is funded by a combination of grants, donations and business income. Given the transitional nature of the program, as participants are only in it for eight to twelve weeks, grants and donations are needed to financially maintain the restaurant and farm.

Employment services: when a participant is close to finishing the job readiness program, Make Projects will assist the participant in seeking permanent employment elsewhere. This includes helping the participant search for and apply for jobs, job interview preparation, regular meetings and support in the first weeks and months at their new job. In addition, Make Projects will coach participants and teach them other skills to stay meaningfully employed. For example, Make Projects will coach participants on how to effectively manage their time, find childcare, and have efficient and dependable transportation. Employment services account for 10 percent of our total staff time.

Education and career counseling staff provide a variety of individual and group trainings and services to counsel and coach participants about how to find and secure a job,american work culture norms and how to succeed on the job. The education and career counseling provided by Make Projects is an essential part of helping participants build their confidence and gain meaningful employment. These educational activities and career counseling programs are provided by employees of Make Projects who have specific knowledge in social work and early employment. As an organization, 15 percent of our staff time is allocated to these activities and the employment placement services described below. The funding is primarily through public and private grants, and some donation income. This activity is important to ensure that Make Projects beneficiaries attain the primary goal of our organization which is a permanent, unsubsidized job out in the community.