TRAINING | MESSAGE ENTERPRISE PROGRAM
Since 2014, The Message Trust has been offering in-prison training to juvenile offenders. Through this training we prepare young men for release from prison.
Through an initial survey in Drakenstein youth prison we found that around 90% of the offenders had no clear plan in place for their release. The Message Enterprise programme (MEP) was launched in response to these findings, in 2015. MEP provides a through-care programme that provides each individual with the tools and skills to reintegrate back into society.
RECRUITMENT
We recruit juvenile offenders who have an intrinsic desire to leave a life of crime and gangsterism. This is done in conjunction with both the Education & Development and Spiritual Care departments of Correctional Services. Our team works with 20-25 juvenile offenders over a one year period. We will also be offering shorter courses in other Correctional facilities.
OUR APPROACH
We provide a ‘through-care’ approach, preparing young men from within prison, supporting them on release, helping them reintegrate back into society.
We do this through three key areas:
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Training / Employment through in-prison training and external employment placements once released, or internally through our Gangstar Café’s
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Accommodation through our OAKS discipleship home, and partner homes
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Community – providing one on one pastoral care for each individual. This is monitored through our Wheel of Life monitoring and assessment tool
