GEORGE NEWS - Improving the verbal communications of the unemployed - this is what the organisation Men On the Side of the Road is currently tackling.
MSR realised that this is a major skill that is needed. It is part of their ongoing interpersonal skills training which is needed to negotiate and resolve conflict.
Men on the Side of the Road (MSR), the NGO in Industrial Street, whose purpose is to assist otherwise unemployed workers in attaining work and skills, is recruiting more skilled members in an attempt to provide a more reliable, skilled service.
Coupled with this is the new system whereby clients will be requested to pay for MSR’s services directly into the MSR account, they in turn will deposit the money into the MSR member’s bank account.
MSR George remains committed to assisting the men who, driven by the need to survive, and feed their families wait expectantly for contractors, homeowners, anyone who cares to offer them a day’s casual labour. "In this regard we are providing on site employability training, a hands on soft skills training course in work ethics, personal responsibility and applying moral standards. "
Amazingly, long term job success is 75% dependent on people skills and only 25% dependent on technical skills. Yet while much focus is placed on skills development, little is placed on interpersonal skills like the ability to negotiate and resolve conflict and written or verbal communication skills. In response, MSR commissioned a soft skills role play training programme which addresses key challenges faced by members. The aim of the programme is to enhance the abilities of participants to effectively engage with their customers."
With a database of over 2000 members many of whom have a wealth of experience despite not having any official qualifications, we believe with the soft skills training programme we are implementing, our members will regain a sense of their own self worth and in so doing provide a better service to our clients.
MSR Regional Manager, Kim Andreoli said - "We also continue to foster our relationship with the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, who are our partners in our Urban Farming project. Although not yet thriving, our vegetables are doing well and by spring we hope to have our nursery up and running.
Our long term vision is to provide potential vegetable growers with instant vegetable gardens. A wooden frame packed with good, wholesome composted soil with organic vegetable seedlings planted in the soil. A plastic bottle with holes in it planted in the middle of the garden and filled with water provides the irrigation necessary. Watch the George Herald for updates on the progress of our Urban Farm.
"We’d like to appeal to the public not to pick up guys who are not at the official site and to consider our members when you need a hand with bricklaying, painting, gardening, moving, packing or any other task you might need assistance with.
"Contact us on 0861 WORKER (0861 967537) or on our George office number 044 801 9173. Together we can make a difference in the lives of the unemployed."
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