Dignity Outreach Programme

The Dignity Outreach Programme objective is to assist destitute people to become self-sufficient and empowered. It includes a situational and skills assessment, assistance with social grants, compiling of CV’s, obtaining work permits, obtaining ID documents and asylum papers, conducting of RPL’s and artisan skills development. Assessments are carried out by the Dignity Boards social worker and skills development programmes are conducted by an accredited training provider.

The steps that we follow are:

1. Create jobs and afford destitute people an opportunity to work, earn an income, eat, wear clean clothes and have a decent place to sleep. They work a minimum of 5 hours and a maximum of 7 hours per day. The board display shifts are a maximum of 2 hours.
   
   
2. Our clients sponsor groups of 4, 8 or 12 people. We explain the process to the workers and those who want to participate will then work with us over a period of at least three months to complete the process.
   
   
3. Do an assessment of the situation and the needs of every person in the group. (Conducted by the social worker.)
   
   
4. Where necessary give guidance, training and counselling on human rights and social skills (Conducted by SETA accredited training provider, social worker or human rights organisations)
   
   
5. Where necessary get all the relevant papers and work permits in order (Done by our social worker and external human rights organisations)
   
   
6. Conduct RPL’s on existing skills.( Done by the accredited training provider)
   
   
7. Start with skills development programmes. Short courses, all SETA accredited and presented by an accredited training provider. The courses we use are: Painting and decorating, bricklaying, plasterwork, waiters, gardening, security. All easy enough and short enough to hold the attention span and to complete. (Conducted by the accredited training provider)
   
   
8. Assist them to compile a CV and include a reference of work they have done for us and previous employers/companies. (Done by our social worker)
   
   
9. List them on the database with Men on the Side of the Road and Workforce to help them find full time employment. (Done by the operations manager or social worker)