Empowering the homeless

MES LECA (Learn.Excel.Conquer.Appreciate) is a social enterprise project which employs and empowers MES clients to live sustainable lives.
LECA has two main activities:

1: Skills training and job creation (empowering the homeless and destitute, giving them back dignity and hope in order to live sustainable lives).

2: Creating a sustainable income flow that will contribute towards the developmental services that MES Cape Town delivers to the homeless and unemployed community of the Northern Suburbs of Cape Town.

1. Skills training and job placement
Beneficiaries would enter the LECA platform on exiting the GROW job rehabilitation programme where they have undergone life skills training and had access to therapeutic social work and occupational therapy services. Training is provided within each business unit to ensure skills transfer and the practical application of skills and building much needed experience is provided through working in the business platform. On average 4 clients are working on the farm with additional opportunities created when harvesting is at it’s peak. By adding more tunnels LECA can increase the number of beneficiaries.

2. Creating a sustainable income flow that will contribute towards the developmental services of MES.
Currently MES has 4 herb tunnels (8500 square meters) growing basil and swiss chard that uses a hydro-phonic drip system. We had our first basil harvest in January 2015. Our first tunnels are used to establish our markets, see what products works the best, learn and experiment with hydroponics and different cultivars and establish our processes. On average 4 clients are working on the farm with additional opportunities created when harvesting is at it’s peak. Currently LECA delivers all our products to In2Food (who is one of the main suppliers for Woolworths). A new contract will be signed with Four Seasons and we are currently negotiating a contract with Produ-co-first who is the supplier to Fruit and Veg. Currently in summer months, we grow Basil and in the winter months Swiss Chard and Italian Parsley.

This project will provide the following funding:

ITEM	DESCRIPTION	ESTIMATE COST	ESIMATE TOTAL
Stipends for 3 people to work on the farm	Empower workers to be able to pay for their own food, accommodation and other basic needs	R120 x 3 people = R360/ day	R360 x 21 days/ month x 12 months = R90 720
Supervisor stipend	Empower a senior worker to pay for his/her food, accommodation and other basic needs	R150 x 1 = R150/ day	R150 x 21 days/ month x 12 months = R37 800
TOTAL			R128,520

by MES

Cape Town, South Africa Poverty Alleviation Job Creation

Project activity

Funded to date:

R 128,520

Funding goal: R 128,520

NGO: MES

Start: 7th July 2017

End: 30th September 2018

Field agent: Anelle Erasmus
anelle@mes.org.za