Men on the Side of the Road Project

Employment intermediation is the primary activity of MSR.

Since 2006 we have focused our energies on finding our members work. This has included creating an environment in which the general public can interact with our members and develop trust.

We have enjoyed outstanding success increasing our placement days from 16,000 in 2006 to 75,000 in 2007 and we exceeded our target to deliver 120,000 days to our members in 2008.

All this success has been achieved on a less than 5% increase in the overall expenditure of MSR in the three years.

Third year compurter Science university students are required to participate in  Joint Community Projects. Two such students Alex Skelton and his colleague Erhardt have conducted a training course for a group of our members. See pictures attached

Recent extreme weather gave our colleagues in Wynberg an opportunity to exercise their imaginations. They came up with a light hearted response to the difficulties they experienced.

The MSR intern program which was initated using a generous donation from the DG Murray Trust (refer press release GETTING SOUTH AFRICA WORKING below) has started its first program in Westridge Mitchels Plain.

The team will be doing all building work on 10, 75 m2 houses. we will keep you informed of progress,

The vast majority of people living in our townships and slums are condemned to a life of paralyzing poverty.  This is due to a complex web of political, social, economic and lifestyle factors.

This is the view of Peter Kratz, Director of Men on the Side of the Road (MSR), the only national organisation that interacts daily with the unskilled and unemployed, providing training and forging a link to job opportunities.

Short term employment doesn't address problems associated with long term unemployment.  Nor does it build an individual's skills to the level where there is long term demand for their services," commented Kratz.

In answer to this dilemma MSR has launched a worker internship programme sponsored by the D..G.,Murray Trust. The program is designed to teach the unskilled and unemployed the mechanics of making a sustainable living. The pilot project started in Cape Town in July and will be expanded to Johannesburg and Pretoria as soon as funds permit.