MES Port Elizabeth

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MES and another welfare organisation in Port Elizabeth started working together on the annual national Winterhoop Campaign that is administrated by MES for a group of inner city organisations. During 2006-2007 possibilities of a closer working relationship were discussed. MES Johannesburg and this organisation shared similar dreams. Initially the plan was to merge and together launch the MES PE Branch. However, in March 2008 both parties realised that the two organisations’ cultures were not compatible. At this point MES PE already started with services independent of the joint activities agreed upon and the MES Board of Directors decided to continue with the MES PE branch due to the huge need in the inner city that has been identified during the needs assessment phase.

The MES PE branch is currently focusing on all three service units, but on a smaller scale, and the services are not yet structured on the same integrated level. This specific programme fits mainly into the Education and Skills Development Service Unit with a special focus on providing residential care. One of the big challenges is still the lack of training programmes and capacity in terms of HR and infrastructure in the MES PE branch.

The clients are identified in partnership with CMR PE in the Poverty Alleviation & Community Service unit. The Professional Social Work and Health Service unit provides the assessment, social support and mentoring component to the trainees (via CMR PE)

This programme is a key component to ensure that there is a sustainable exit plan for our clients.

Purpose of Services in MES PE

The MES PE branch is in an early development stage. This branch would like to strive for the following:

To co-ordinate, develop and implement comprehensive poverty reduction programmes in conjunction with social support programmes to ensure the sustainable empowerment of the homeless, unskilled and unemployed community members.
To build a relationship with the community in order to identify the needs and to advocate the existing services available to them.
To provide a centralised intake office for assessments, referrals and other professional social work services. (This is achieved through a service level agreement with CMR PE)
To provide social relief services through community outreaches and provide for the basic needs of the people i.e. including residential care
To provide a multi-purpose community centre that will function as a headquarters, residential care facility, drop-in centre and training facility by renovating and equipping the current facility.
To co-ordinate, facilitate and monitor formal vocational skills development programmes (this is due for 2011)
To provide job placement and follow-up to beneficiaries (this is due for 2011)
To ensure that the programme is rolled out according to the MES model and that infrastructure is developed to support the services

FUTURE PLANS

In MES PE the following services will be implemented – most like from 2011 depending on the development of the multi-purpose community centre: