At the end there was just silence in the classroom. Buhle wiped sweat off his forehead and feeling slightly nervous, he took his picture away from the flipchart stand. Then everyone started clapping and cheering!
He had inspired them all with his introduction. He had drawn up and spoken about – just as all the others – his vision of his future work and life, and the path he had taken until here. This path had not only been easy, on the contrary. Due to financial difficulties, formal training was absolutely out of reach for Buhle back in the Eastern Cape.

Buhle is one of the students at the multi-award-winning BIG FISH School of Digital Film making. The school implements cutting edge training interventions to produce socially responsible, progressive filmmakers keen to transform society and contribute to developing the indigenous filmmaking culture. Having proven successful in Johannesburg since 2003, the School launched its Cape Town branch in 2011. Dr. Melanie Chait, Big Fish CEO, “the expansion to Cape Town was the obvious next step, considering all the Western Cape aspirant filmmakers coming to Johannesburg to be trained by us and hopefully we will be able to have a greater impact by being here.“

The cornerstone of the BIG FISH philosophy is a unique and holistic approach to training. Students are prepared for the workplace by addressing technical, business and life skills. In order to achieve this at the Cape Town School, BIG FISH works with CONTRACT SA, a consultancy for organisational and human resource development. This felt like a good match – a film school and a consultancy that are both operating and recognised locally and internationally.
Buhle has already taken many steps and is in the middle of ‘designing his life’. He is enjoying all aspects of BIG FISH, growing as a person as well as a film maker. “BIG FISH and CONTRACT SA gave me so many impulses for my life, communication skills and personality development. I am now feeling prepared not only to create exceptional films, but I see my future roles, as leader in my own life and leader of others.”
Luana Vaveki, one of the women who facilitate the life skills workshops at BIG FISH, has already found her dream role. Only 3 years ago, she was in a similar situation as Buhle – she plucked up all her courage and asked the facilitator Judith Haupt from CONTRACT SA if she could do an internship to find out more about the job of a facilitator and coach. Today she is facilitating workshops for CONTRACT SA at BIG FISH!!! A wonderful example of life design, and when she speaks to the students, she speaks from the heart and more importantly, from her own experience.
Karen Pratt, facilitator of CONTRACT SA: “For us, the work with BIG FISH is an exciting challenge. Our main clients are companies – for example in the automotive and financial sector – as well as NGOs. Our usual focus is developing leadership competence within organisations and providing support in other organisational development. But we noticed that our specific approach is just as effective when facilitating life skills. No matter where we work – we work with people and their personalities, and aim to increase their effectiveness and virtue. At BIG FISH, it is inspiring to see the students becoming more aware of their potential and growing in self awareness and in interpersonal skills, both regarding their personal lives and their work at the film school.“

In Buhle’s words, he is “on his way to the top!” His vision as an upcoming Filmmaker is to go back home to the Eastern Cape and start documenting the interesting untold rich stories of his province. With the skills he receives through Big Fish, he is confident to explore his vision and to help others who are creative but cannot have formal training.
With a school as wonderfully progressive as BIG FISH, this should be a piece of cake! With its track record of achieving an impressive 85% employment rate for former students, while the remaining 15% work on their own productions, Buhle can look forward to a promising future.

Our Entry level students totally enjoy CONTRACT SA‘s workshops, Karen and Luana make it fun and interesting. I often pop into their class to chat and to discuss what they are covering for the day and I find their lessons interesting, so interesting that I am planning to do further courses with Karen on the topics to help me in my position at Big Fish.

Project Manager BIG FISH, Lisa Mini

Breakfast topic: The use of Transactional Analysis (TA) as a development instrument in Organisations

TA models are most often used in organisations as communication and interpersonal skills tools. This workshop will give you insight into the use of TA models as they are applied for diagnosis and remedy at the macro level of Organisational Development.

When and where:
9 for 9:30 – 12:00, Friday 9 December, Events Room at the Bandwidth Barn, 125 Buitengracht Street

More about Marguerite:
Marguerite is a consultant and facilitator for CONTRACT SA. She is a Certified Organisational Transactional Analyst, (CTA) (O), having obtained certification in London in 2010. Marguerite uses TA as the basis for her work in OD and Management Development interventions in Organisations.

Please RSVP to Zandi Vaveki by Monday 5th December: luana.vaveki@contract-sa.co.za or 021 409 7043

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU!

THE CONTRACT SOUTH AFRICA TEAM

Human Resource Development (HRD) Professionals are drivers of HR and Organisational Development – at an individual, team or organisational level. Implementing HR Development is rewarding, but can be challenging at times. As an ambassador for development within your organisation, looking beyond the ‘borders’ of your own company can be highly beneficial.

WHAT IS AN HRD COMMUNITY

The CONTRACT HRD Community is a sharing of expertise and peer coaching regarding Human Resource Development. It has been developed for HR professionals who want to expand their knowledge beyond their own organisation and who want to improve their HR practice. The HRD Community is offered by CONTRACT South Africa. Each workshop is run by an experienced CONTRACT consultant who will facilitate the peer coaching sessions and provide expertise and insight from a consultant perspective.

An HRD Community consists of several companies and organisations that tap into the synergies of their HR professionals. In the HRD Community, the specific Human Resource Development of all organisations is supported. Through a mix of group and individual interventions, the HRD Community is highly efficient both in terms of cost and content.

THE PROCESS

We are starting a new HRD Community in 2012, which will meet once every quarter for one day. The following will be the process of each workshop:
- Input regarding an HRD topic by CONTRACT SA
- Exchange on this topic between the organisations present
- Peer coaching regarding current HRD and OD challenges

Once an HRD Community is established, the delegates of the group will stay the same to ensure in-depth work on relevant HRD aspects. The input topics will be tailored to delegates’ needs and finalised during the first session. Possible examples of topics are:
- HR professionals as strategic partners
- Human Resource Development: different approaches
- Team development as the driver of and link between HRD and OD
- Leadership in times of ‘bad weather’
- Quality Management
- Leadership instruments
- Performance-based pay structures
- Change Management and Human Resource Development
- Career paths and leadership development
- Health Management in organisations

Human Resource or OD interventions that emerge from the sessions are implemented in each organisation, either internally or with support by CONTRACT.

The workshops will take place at the CONTRACT offices in Cape Town. Alternatively, workshops can be held at delegates’ premises on a rotation basis.

INVESTMENT AND BENEFITS

The benefits of participating in an HRD Community are:
- Strengthened role and confidence as HR professionals
- Staying abreast of current trends in HRD practice
- Networking with other HR professionals
- Solutions for current challenges in HRD and OD practice
- Exchange of HRD Best Practice

There are two options to participate and benefit from the HRD Community:

Option 1:
Participation at quarterly workshops
Cost: R 5,000 excl. VAT

Option2:
Participation at quarterly workshops plus 1 individual Coaching session regarding HRD in own company or a particular HRD aspect
Cost: R 6,000 excl. VAT

SUGGESTED DATES FOR 2012

Workshop 1: 10th February 2012
Workshop 2: 11th May 2012
Workshop 3: 10th August 2012
Workshop 4: 9th November 2012

Please book soon as places are limited!

For further information and registration, please contact Judith Haupt:

judith.haupt@contract-sa.co.za; 021 – 409 70 43