Adonis Musati Project
The Adonis Musati Project’s (AMP) mission is to empower marginalized refugees in South Africa through fostering sustainable support networks and encouraging personal development that achieves lasting change. To become self-sufficient and independent they need a holistic intervention that addresses all the barriers to accessing self-reliance. These barriers may include all or some of the following:
Little or no access to business and skills training and the funds required to enroll
Inability to speak English and thus qualify for enrollment on courses, find a job, or run a business successfully
Inability to access documentation due to inefficient and often corrupt immigration system or having documentation with limited validity thus limiting access to services including enrollment or training
Little or no funds for safe childcare to attend training or job search
Protection issues (poverty, intimate partner violence, dangerous living environment). Need for emergency social assistance such as food and rent as well as psychosocial support to process trauma and obtain freedom from dangerous, abusive, and exploitative situations.
Insufficient funds to pay for daily transport to and from training
Little or no tools and materials to start a business after training
Lack of ongoing support, mentoring, and encouragement when starting a new job or business
Solution & Project Description
Research confirms that assisting refugees with income generation projects in a vacuum that do not take into account the other challenges they are facing, often fail. This project thus aims to support refugees with the following:
Fees for skill training
Part or all fees for temporary childcare during training
Transport stipend to and from training
Financing Start-up “toolkit” e.g. sewing machine or small oven, to begin generating an income post training
A stipend towards a dedicated mentor who can assist the beneficiary with the challenges of training, starting a business, or finding a job
The project phases will include:
Initial assessment of an individual by a social worker or registered counsellor thus identifying particular needs and barriers to accessing self-reliance
Developing a tailor-made plan and timeline together with the beneficiary to address each barrier taking into account beneficiaries’ existing strengths and skills
Directing the individual to relevant departments for services as well as to other service providers for training (assisting financially where necessary). All training courses to incorporate or be accompanied by a basic business start-up or job readiness course to enhance success.
Mentorship and guidance from training through to business start-up
Continuous monitoring and evaluation of process
More information available at: https://www.adonismusatiproject.org/
