Bosasa is out for Life
Whenever the phone rings and an ex-offender introduces herself (it's usually a woman and we wonder why), the first sentence is "Thank you for the food, God Bless you!" With only time on their hands they have had moments of reflection. Sometimes they come to Bosasa and Mogale business Park to experience the Company that gave them "food that became interesting and palatable" and of course we take them to the Diner to experience Allister Esau first hand. They tell us that Job Centre Trust is discussed in Correctional Centres as they plan their futures on parole. We must be doing something right. Sometimes they arrive with old, well thumbed Bosele mags.
What is Job Centre Trust? JCT is small but dedicated initiative that helps ex-offenders to set themselves up in small businesses or find meaningful work. It began in response to the Correctional Services White Paper which asked all stakeholders to share in the inmate change process. The JCT service, a brain child of Bosasa, is free. We coach and mentor them, test their skills, do career path assessments and acknowledge their hopes and dreams. Last year we helped the Mayor of Mogale City establish a small business support network when he launched an SMME day.
Anel is an ex offender, and a highly energetic woman who has entered sales and is also exploring a tutoring role. As much as she hated being ‘inside' she acknowledges "I suppose I learned my hard lessons but I also gained valuable skills. I found I am a good trainer, and this is where I want help to carve out a new future for myself ". Having discovered her identity for the first time she has found people warm to her enthusiasm for a new life. We are helping her with the basics of setting up a small training company and finding her first clients. Children are her passion. Raymond had never picked up a pencil in his life to sketch. After a few lessons he found he had a bent for design working with whatever drawing instrument he could find and was permitted while serving his sentence. JCT was able to introduce him to shop owners in the centre of Johannes burg who welcomed his fresh eye for a Calvin Klein style. His jeans are well cut, with detail and flair. Joe was paroled and is about to start his Master's Degree. He was a gardener when he was incarcerated. Some just come to chat about their past and futures. Some are youth from the Youth Centres who express appreciation of MYC's philosophy "You are entitled to a second chance", and they embrace that opportunity. One motto they all share is that of JCT ‘ Now - out for ‘life"! And a new life is what we help to give them, one step at a time. DBJ
Bosasa is out for Life
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Gavin Watson Blog
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What is Job Centre Trust? JCT is small but dedicated initiative that helps ex-offenders to set themselves up in small businesses or find meaningful work. It began in response to the Correctional Services White Paper which asked all stakeholders to share in the inmate change process. The JCT service, a brain child of Bosasa, is free. We coach and mentor them, test their skills, do career path assessments and acknowledge their hopes and dreams. Last year we helped the Mayor of Mogale City establish a small business support network when he launched an SMME day.
Anel is an ex offender, and a highly energetic woman who has entered sales and is also exploring a tutoring role. As much as she hated being ‘inside' she acknowledges "I suppose I learned my hard lessons but I also gained valuable skills. I found I am a good trainer, and this is where I want help to carve out a new future for myself ". Having discovered her identity for the first time she has found people warm to her enthusiasm for a new life. We are helping her with the basics of setting up a small training company and finding her first clients. Children are her passion. Raymond had never picked up a pencil in his life to sketch. After a few lessons he found he had a bent for design working with whatever drawing instrument he could find and was permitted while serving his sentence. JCT was able to introduce him to shop owners in the centre of Johannes burg who welcomed his fresh eye for a Calvin Klein style. His jeans are well cut, with detail and flair. Joe was paroled and is about to start his Master's Degree. He was a gardener when he was incarcerated. Some just come to chat about their past and futures. Some are youth from the Youth Centres who express appreciation of MYC's philosophy "You are entitled to a second chance", and they embrace that opportunity. One motto they all share is that of JCT ‘ Now - out for ‘life"! And a new life is what we help to give them, one step at a time. DBJ
Bosasa is out for Life
Squidoo
Blog Spot
Article
Gavin Watson Blog
Weebly