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Monday 08:30 - 16:00 Tuesday 08:30 - 16:00 Wednesday 08:30 - 16:00 Thursday 08:30 - 16:00 Friday 08:30 - 15:00

Learn to Earn South Africa

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South Africa
Cape Town
Learn to Earn South Africa

Learn to Earn (LtE), is a skills development and job creation non-profit organisation.

We seek to develop people, especially unemployed people, socially, economically, emotionally and spiritually. Through providing a programme that recognises human dignity and the right to live a meaningful life, we aim to assist individuals to regain their self respect. We do this by empowering them to provide for themselves and for their families. In recent years, we have maintained 83% success rate of previously unemployed people becoming economically active or given access into further education. Of those economically active, about 20% have started their own businesses.

02/10/2026

‘My name is Sipenkosi, and I want to share my journey at Learn to Earn.

When I first arrived, I had a little knowledge about handyman skills, and I thought it was enough to work with. But when I started, I realised there was still a lot to learn.

When I started, I knew how to use hammers, screwdrivers, measuring tapes and other hand tools. That changed when we were introduced to power tools and how to use them correctly so that we don't put ourselves or others at risk of getting hurt.

It was not an easy journey, as many of the skills were new to me and I was seeing them for the first time. I remember one day we were painting a wall and we spilled paint and ruined some of the paving and the garden. It was not a good experience, because if it had been a customer, they would not have been happy. I would have lost that customer, received a bad rating, and they would not have recommended us to others. But our trainer told us to learn from our mistakes and take it as constructive criticism. We also got to fix things around the campus to gain experience.

A big challenge was financially, because during the 14 weeks there was no income coming in, we also had to pay for transport every day.

I initially came without the idea of starting my own business. Then I was introduced to the Business Essentials class, and my mindset changed from wanting to be employed to wanting to start my own business using the skills I gained at LtE. I am now on a journey of starting my own business. I am using everything I learned at LtE – handyman, business and life skills - including discipline and how to deal with different customers.

I thank Learn to Earn for all the training and for the patience they had with us. I hope to prove to them that I can make a success of this.’

Interested? Add your name to the course interest list and then look out for our WhatsApp with info about the assessment day. https://tinyurl.com/LtEcourseinterest/
Course fee: R950 (R300 registration fee + R650 balance during course)
Times: Full day, Mon-Fri
Duration: 14 weeks
Entry requirements: Grade 10 pass, successfully complete the entry assessment, own PPE suit & work boots.

01/10/2026

Lusindiso is a recent Basic Sewing graduate, at the end of his course he had this to share about his time on campus:

‘My name is Lusindiso, I am from Makhaza. I walk the 5km to Learn to Earn each and every morning and do the same in the afternoons when I go back home, I don’t mind at all because I am doing the Basic Sewing course, which I really love. I enjoy being here, as I am with other guys who have become my brothers, we interact about a lot of different things - positive things about our future.

We also learn about Life Skills and Business Essentials. This business one is challenging as we are learning to do cost price but thank you to Learn to Earn, as these classes really open our minds, some of us last did accounting in high school 😊

Ever since I came to LtE the way I look at life has changed. The new friends that I have made, have shown me love and care, something that I have missed and have been longing for, for a long time. I would recommend anyone - young or old - to come and do a course at Learn to Earn, it is the best place to be at. There is also a church service that happens every Wednesday where we sing, preach and praise the Lord.’

The Basic Sewing course interest list is currently closed for names. The list will open Tuesday 17 November at 9am. This will be for classes in 2027.

While on the course you will learn to sew on our domestic and industrial sewing machines.

10 weeks, full day
Total cost: R900 (R300 payable at the assessment + R600 payable during the course)
Entry requirements: basic literacy & numeracy assessment. Course participants will need to access to a domestic sewing machine for homework tasks during the course.

This course covers BOTH business & sewing skills, to help you build a sewing business from home. During the course you will learn to sew as well as basic business principles such as costing & pricing, business finances, the business plan, money sums, stock control, marketing your business etc.

29/09/2026

A Day in the Real World of Housekeeping

Recently, our Home Management students had the opportunity to visit a local Hermanus Airbnb after the guests had checked out. For many it was their very first time experiencing a guest house environment. The group got to see what the Airbnb rooms really look like after guests have left and discovered that being a housekeeper is not always a glamorous job!

The students stripped the bed, sorted dirty laundry and visited the storeroom to find new linen and towels to remake the bed etc. They worked together to make up the bed and did really well. One student even noticed a mark on a duvet cover and immediately said, “That’s not suitable to go on the bed!” The marked linen was put aside for treatment, and a clean duvet cover was found.

The windows and doors were opened to freshen the house, the cupboards and draws were checked inside and the class made sure the lights and TV were working properly. They also tried their hand at folding and sorting towels for the bathroom and swimming pool, using the vacuum cleaner and seeing how to correctly use a washing machine.

When they trainer asked what they had learnt, Sizeka shared that she had learnt how to make a bed and how to sort towels for a bathroom and swimming pool. Amanda M shared that she had learnt how to make a bed, fold towels and how to use a vacuum cleaner.

What their trainer loved most was their attitude – they were positive, willing and eager to help. A good worker is always willing to ask, “What happens next?” or “Where can I assist?” That positive attitude is a very good start to a successful career in hospitality, and she is so proud of how our students approached their first real housekeeping experience!

Interested?
Add your name to the course interest list and then lookout for our WhatsApp invite to visit campus to complete the application process https://tinyurl.com/LtEcourseinterest

Course Fee: R650 (R300 registration fee + R350 course fee)
Times: full day, Mon- Fri
Duration: 8 weeks
Entry requirements: complete the basic literacy & numeracy assessment successfully.

28/09/2026

‘My name is Nandiswa, I am a mother of two beautiful daughters and am from the Eastern Cape. In Cape Town I stay in Khayelitsha.

I am not employed; I'm just a girl who's trying to make a success of life. At the moment I am busy with my baking business, baking cakes, scones and biscuits. What inspired me to do the Bake for Profit course at Learn to Earn is because of the love I have for baking.

I came to Learn to Earn to learn more baking skills and learn how to measure my ingredients. When I came to LtE I was told there is a ‘Business Essentials’ class and I was so happy to be part of the class because I learned a lot.

In Business Essentials class I learnt the importance of a business plan and how to do market research. I also learnt how to do costings and pricing. I learned that it is important to know what is trending because you can't sell to people what they don’t want to buy.

I have been busy with my business for 2 months and it is doing well as I have customers who order from me regularly. As for now I don't have business cards I take orders via WhatsApp and calls. I would like to have my own recipe book one day, and sell my homemade goodies from scratch from my own recipe book☺️❤️

My dream is to become the best in baking and one day own a big bakery and create job opportunities for unemployed youth in my community.’

LtE BfP is offered at LtE Hermanus and LtE Khayelitsha
8 weeks, 3 days per week, full day
Cost: R800 (R300 payable at the assessment + R500 payable during the course)
Entry requirement: basic literacy & numeracy assessment, daily access to an oven

This course covers BOTH business & baking skills – which will help you build a baking business from your home. During the course you will need to go into your community and sell your products.

You can also add your name via this link: https://tinyurl.com/LtEcourseinterest

24/09/2026

Heritage Day

On 24 September South Africans celebrate Heritage Day – a day to celebrate our diversity and the many cultures that are represented in our country. A day to commemorate our beliefs and traditions, and a nation that belongs to all its people, 'I am because you are.’

In an address marking Heritage Day in 1996, former President Nelson Mandela stated:
‘When our first democratically elected government decided to make Heritage Day one of our national days, we did so because we knew that our rich and varied cultural heritage has a profound power to help build our new nation.’

As you light the fire for your lunchtime or early evening Heritage Day braai, think about and consider how your heritage has helped you be an active participant in post-Apartheid South Africa.

23/09/2026

Heritage Day celebrations at LtE Khayelitsha
Shweshwe
umqusho
umbhaco

21/09/2026

Our Hermanus campus recently had the Bake for Profit course finishing and at the same time the Basic Sewing starting their skills courses.

Both these options include the Business Essentials course as part of their time at LtE. This course focuses on equipping students with the necessary knowledge and understanding they need to start their own business and is designed to encourage students to start developing their business ideas and the business itself during their time with us.

The Basic Sewing students started with understanding what the business cycle is and how to conduct market research. These modules focus on the flow within a business and deciding who the business would like to sell their products to. Although the sewing class is at the start of the course, they are showing promising dedication towards their businesses.

On the other hand, the Bake for Profit students were preparing for their final assessment - ‘Shark Tank’. An oral presentation of their business ideas which is pitched to the panel of judges.

Whether our students are at the start or end of their time at LtE – we know that being on campus will equip them with the skills needed not only to make a baked or sewn item – but also to be able to place a realistic value on their time, effort and materials that have gone into make those items.

Use the link to access the Hermanus and Khayelitsha course interest lists that are open for the last courses of 2026 and the 1st courses of 2027.

Cost to students range from R400 – R950 for a LtE Course.

You can use this link to access the list https://tinyurl.com/LtEcourseinterest

11/09/2026

Learning to sew is very daunting, but our Hermanus Basic Sewing students have been growing in confidence day by day. By the second week of the course the students have overcome their fears and working on a fast industrial machine is no longer scary or intimidating.

During the 1st weeks, the class learnt to sew using domestic and industrial sewing machines as well as over lock machines. One of the 1st tasks is learning how to thread each one, which can be very confusing, especially on the overlocker, as well as sewing straight lines and seams.

With a lot of practicing and many samples, the students are ready to make their first product, a table runner. With the aim of being able to make, sell and start saving for their sewing business.

Sometimes progress can be slow, but when it comes to delivering quality work, it cannot be rushed. When it comes to sewing it is a matter of slow and steady wins the race!

HERMANUS: the course interest list is open for names for 2027
KHAYELITSHA: course interest list opens Tuesday 17 November at 9am. The list is expected to fill up fast! So be ready. This is for the 1st and 2nd courses of 2027.
You will need to add your name using this link https://tinyurl.com/LtEcourseinterest/
Course info:
10 weeks, full day
Total cost: R900 (R300 payable at the assessment + R600 payable during the course)
Entry requirements: basic literacy & numeracy assessment.
Course participants will need to access to a domestic sewing machine for homework tasks during the course.
This course covers BOTH business & sewing skills, to help you build a sewing business from home.
During the course you will learn to sew as well as basic business principles such as costing & pricing, business finances, the business plan, money sums, stock control, marketing your business etc.

10/09/2026

Ground UP Academy would like to thank Nucleus Coffee Tools and Cape Coffee Beans for their generosity and like-minded approach to the coffee industry. Their vision to see the coffee culture grow in Cape Town through all academies and institutions is appreciated.

Nucleus Coffee Tools and Cape Coffee Beans recently donated a third generation NCD (Nucleus Coffee Distributor) to the Academy, so that our students could familiarize themselves with the tool.

The heart of any coffee beverage is the espresso – it can build a loyal customer or send them running for the hills! Many coffee shops are moving towards using handy tools such as the NCD to assist in creating perfect, consistent and repeatable espressos.

Siyamtanda had the opportunity to be our 1st student to use the NCD – learning what it does, how it works, observing the difference in distribution and practicing good tool maintenance.

Moments like this help build a wider and stronger foundation for our students at Learn to Earn and Ground UP by exposing them to a wide variety of situations that they might encounter when they land a job.

Thank you Nucleus Coffee Tools and Cape Coffee Beans for playing a role in our students’ lives and assisting NPO’s like Learn to Earn to develop the next generation of baristas.

Cape Coffee Beans

Address

Head Office: 30 Sixwayikati Street. Ilitha Park, Khayelitsha
Cape Town
7784

Opening Hours

Monday	08:30 - 16:00
Tuesday	08:30 - 16:00
Wednesday	08:30 - 16:00
Thursday	08:30 - 16:00
Friday	08:30 - 15:00

Telephone

+27216712230

Website

http://www.learntoearn.org.za/

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