MORE than 200000 former offenders and prison inmates awaiting release have little chance of finding employment. So a campaign called Out4Life, has been launched by the Job Centre Trust (JCT) to provide them with life skills and commercial know-how to start their own small businesses.

The scheme was devised in response to a Correctional Services white paper calling for renewed public and private efforts to reintegrate former offenders into the socioeconomic system.

“Leaving jail after incarceration sounds like a good idea,” says Dr Denise Bjorkman who, with Dr Thembi Modungwa, drives the JCT. “But to many ex-offenders staying where they are may be the best option.

”“No skills, no jobs, no prospects … that's what faces them outside. Behind bars they are housed and eat well.”

South African society faces two choices, she says. Give members of this army of ex-offenders the opportunity to become self-reliant, income-earning contributors to the economy. Or run the real risk that many will revert to crime — with grave consequences for peace-loving communities, tourism and foreign investment.

“Nelson Mandela could have chosen retribution against a sick society … instead he changed the path of history through the Truth and Reconciliation Commission … When cultural icons teach valuable lessons we need to listen.”

The JCT is calling on the private sector and government to get involved — to help fund all aspects of the ambitious long-tern campaign. Money and mentors are needed to prepare inmates and former offenders to start their own little businesses.

“All Correctional Services area commissioners are now working with us,” she says

A start has been made at Pollsmoor prison in the Cape. Individuals are being trained as chefs and caterers so that when they leave they can successfully run small catering businesses.

“It may be as simple as a sandwich bar with buns or curry and rice. The training includes all aspects of health, preparation, marketing, distribution and money management.

“At Pollsmoor with the help of the black economic empowerment group Bosasa — the name means the future — we have also started a massive garden project where potential parolees will learn how to grow a range of produce for marketing back to the prison at a price, and to Cape Town restaurants and other customers. Another project linked to this is packaged frozen vegetables for the Cape market.

Different prisons may have inmates preparing for different occupations. But all will in time have mentors available to teach inmates how to start and run a small business, says Bjorkman, who is also vice-president of the South African Council of Coaches and Mentors.

Many small businesses fail because they lack infrastructure. So the JCT plans to implement an incubator system providing all the infrastructure support a start-up business may need.

Depending on available funding some former offenders are to be mentored on running community telephone services from container “offices”. Others will learn to manufacture household and garden furniture. Some will train as butchers and bakers. Others will learn how to make cotton leisure pants.

Also in the pipeline is bee-keeping and honey production.

A major project will involve revamping SA’s national road guardrails in the lead-up to the World Cup 2010 soccer extravaganza. The plan is to repair and repaint guardrails on all national roads leading to World Cup venues. These will be repainted white and yellow to meet regional safety specifications. To limit travel and accommodation problems this project will draw on a database of former offenders from communities in the vicinity of a section of road where guardrails need attention. Several companies have already pledged paint and materials.

The JCT plans to hold a series of project minilaunches around the country, aimed mainly at eliciting corporate support.