Each month, partners present the work they are doing as part of the JICP’s SEF project.
MES is a Christian social development organisation that has been changing the heart of the city and has been actively working towards providing sustainable solutions to pervasive poverty in the inner cities of Johannesburg, Cape Town, Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) and Kempton Park.
The visionary goal is to build thriving urban communities with access to effective and efficient pathways out of poverty and homelessness.
MES focuses on 5 groups: pre-schoolers, learners, school-leaving youth, youth & adults at risk and families at risk.
SEF participants are placed in all 5 focus groups.
MES 1: Kapteijn Street: Education and ECD, Health and Care
• 15 Participants
• 5 are assisting with the Head Office operations (IT, M&E, Fundraising & Marketing)
• 10 participants are stationed at MES Roly Poly crèche where they clean the crèche environment, assisting in the kitchen and classes.
MES 2: BG Alexander: Education and ECD
• 18 Participants
• 4 Participants are stationed at the After School Centre, they assist learners with homework and reading skills.
• 7 Participants are at the Training Centre assisting clients with job applications, grant applications, assistance on how to use a computer, printing CVs and making copies.
• 7 Participants are stationed at MES Dinaledi crèche where they clean the crèche environment, do gardening, assist in the kitchen and classrooms.
• Training centre offers free accredited courses
MES 3: Impilo: Health and Care
• 21 Participants
• Participants’ activities include doing office admin, outreach, house visits, attending campaigns, assisting in the kitchen, and cleaning the centre environment.
• Two SEF participants were absorbed by MES, and are employed as Social Auxiliary Workers at MES.
• Participants do health talks with the public and distribute condoms.
MES4: GROW: Placemaking
• 45 Participants
• Participants’ activities include cleaning Hillbrow public spaces, and streets and unblocking drains.
• Participants manage to collect 200-400 bags per month.
MES 5: Florida: Education and ECD
• 4 Participants
• Participants’ activities include cleaning the crèche environment, gardening and assisting in the kitchen and classrooms.
• Most participants are eager to pursue a career in the ECD sector.
Training
- 2 Participants attended the iKhokha training, whereby they were taught how to use a speed point, the log ins and out.
- 2 Participants were trained for a computer course.
- 5 Participants were trained for Wellbi M&E system, whereby they capture, categorize and analyze data.
- 5 Participants were trained for Life Skills accredited course
- 27 Participants are part of the BPESA training.
Participant Experience
My name is Portia Mphahlele, I started working for SEF since round 1 in the M&E department. Working in the M&E department has taught me to be resilient, a team player, planning and organizing work. I can work independently and can train staff on how to access and capture data on the Wellbi portal.
My name is Ursula Hlobisile Mtolo, I was introduced at MES Skills Training Development Centre by one of my family members and I was told that they are offering free courses. I was interested and I decided to enrol with them since I was not working. I completed my course on June 2023, and then I got an opportunity to work under SEF Programme and I was placed at MES Training Centre. I started late last year until today I’m still working there as an admin assistant. I would like to thank SEF Programme for this best opportunity in my life. So far, I have learned so many things and I have gained a lot of experience and knowledge, it has also boosted my self-confidence.
Community Benefit
MES has launched mobile showers and toilets for people who find themselves destitute/homeless and the SEF participants assisted. Seeing clients using the mobile toilets and showers is a sign of appreciation from the community.
The number of learners at the crèches keeps increasing and there is appreciation for the help of SEF participants
Partner SEF Learnings
- GROW had limited cleaning materials when SEF round 1 began, fortunately, this has improved with access to the programme budget.
- MES employed 2 SEF participants as Social Workers.
- MES keeps availing training opportunities to SEF participants to increase their employability.
The JICP (through JICSEP) is a Strategic Implementing Partner (SIP) of the Social Employment Fund (SEF) working with 10 partners to create a total of 1358 work opportunities in Johannesburg.
