School of Commons

Entrepreneurship offers opportunities to be economically active and independent. Our world of work has changed forever after Covid.

We found, however, that most business training courses focus on individual aspects and skills, and when an enterprise does not go as planned the risk is that objective difficulties are constructed as personal “faults” of the individual entrepreneur.

We believe, instead, that in our communities is important to find forms of economic activity based on collective contexts. Focusing on the community can bring together resources and capabilities and allow aspiring businesspeople to move towards a common “leadership” rather than a personal “leadership”, generating a change in the group that will reflect on the individuals that belong to it.

All of us, as parents, community members and citizens, have knowledge and know-how to share. That’s why the course we offer is developed as collective learning opportunity, where participants start sharing their own skills and life experiences to develop an approach of knowledge sharing.

The program includes an overview of different models for building and carrying out economic activities based on democracy and sharing. During the course we will also discuss the legal framework for economic activities, as well as the administrative procedures to obtain permits, such as the Certificate of Acceptability for Food Premises as well as registration process for Trade Licenses.

Lunch break is considered integral part of the course, being a common space where the participants will get together to share a meal and discuss ideas. Participants will select the area that interests them most between the following:

1. Food preparation and catering

2. Hair, nails and wellness

3. Tailoring business

The course will take place at Cissie Gool House in 77 Mountain Road, Woodstock, over a period of 12 weeks, with one session per week on Wednesdays from 9:00am to 4:00pm.