Where do the trainees come from? Some of the trainees have had experience of begging on the streets because of their disability. Others may have lived with their families but were unable to leave their homes for a long period and may have had little access to education or exposure to the outside world.
What training do you offer? Training in life skills, personal and social development, literacy and numeracy, moral and spiritual values, and business skills.
How do you select your trainees? We invite applicants to participate in a screening process aimed at assessing each person's aptitude and suitability for our training programme.
From those, the eight who are most likely to benefit from the training programme are invited to move into the training centre and become full-time, residential, trainees.
How long will the training take? We think that it will probably take around 2 years, taking into account the background of the teenagers. We are helping them to develop their interpersonal and life skills, to learn to trust other people and to work together as a team. In addition, the teenagers need to grasp many business skills and techniques.
How is the training centre designed? It is accessible to wheelchair users and includes training areas, accommodation for the teenagers and house-parents, and office space.
When did the training begin? Three students entered the training centre on a residential basis in June 2007. Three further students joined us in September 2007, and the last one joined us at the beginning of 2008. We hope that in 2009 when this current team has more independance we can take in a new team of about 6 students to begin a new round of training.
How is it being financed? By sponsors, both outside China and within. We hope that groups and individuals will feel able to support the training centre and thereby help the trainees. Although Chinese staff will receive a salary, all Western staff will be self-supporting.
If you would like to be part of the support team, please go to the "DONATE" section of this website.
How much money is needed? Our running costs are estimated at GBP 25,000 per year. We are currently renting our dormitory premises. Since renovations have been costly and time-consuming, we would like to be able to buy them.
What next? By the end of the training programme, the trainees will have set up their own profit-making business and they will be helped to move out of the training centre into their own premises. Firm Foundations will begin to train a second group of trainees, but will continue to offer advice and encouragement to the first group for as long as is needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do the trainees come from?