Outreach Programme

Wed, 05/01/2011 - 09:40

AMP's Outreach Programme has three components:

Outreach

AMP has regular donations of food coming in weekly from the Food Bank and countless volunteers. When possible, this food is brought to the homeless asylum seekers and refugees who stay in City Bowl District, and to the many individuals who wait in line for asylum papers outside of the Home Affairs office in Maitland. We have volunteers who regularly provide hand made sleeping bags for us to hand out to the homeless. We pass out informational brochures to new comers with contact details of various NPO’s throughout the community who offer specific services. Oftentimes newcomers are unfamiliar with the area and unaware of resources available to them.

Lay Counseling and Advice Center

Our programme in Observatory serves nearly 15 individuals per week. Volunteers and staff schedule appointments with individuals to assess their needs and see where we can help. We liaise with various hospitals, free clinics, employment agencies, training centers, rape and trauma counseling centers, shelters, and other releavanat organisations in the area and refer individuals for further, specific help. We also explain how to get proper asylum documentation (i.e. where to go, what to expect, etc.) for undocumented asylum seekers. We network with organszations and our own supporters to try to fill any needs that we can. In the past AMP and supporters have helped source employment, find and sponsor accommodation and training courses, covered (reasonable) medical costs, sponsored repatriation, sponsored small business start-up costs, and helped source trade tools such as carpentry tools, plumbing tools, etc. for those who have trade skills but need tools. In addition, each interviewee receives a food pack and a packet of clothing from our storage room. We also supply odd items that are donated to our project such as dishware, pillows, blankets, toys, books, etc. The amount of help we offer often depends on the amount of resources we have, giving priority to the most destitute individuals.

Support Groups

AMP has recently started a weekly support group for HIV-positive women. The sessions are often coupled with craft-making, and we hope to market and sell some of these products in order to raise money for the women in the support group, and the project.

Work Opportunities for Single Mothers

Wed, 01/02/2012 - 15:41

Last month AMP was approached by a young company called Rubybox who needed some ladies for three days a month to pack their costmetic boxes. Five of our support group participants worked for three days last week and made a very tidy sum packing boxes. They were so excited, and they really enjoyed the employees, the work and the environment of the company. They will be going back next month to do the same, and if the company grows as it expects to, Rubybox may increase the work from three days to five!

These women are needy single mothers whose main concern is providing for their children in these difficult times. They have been associated with AMP for months now and a number of them have shown incredible commitment, diligence and character while with us.

AMP Support Group for Women

Tue, 20/12/2011 - 12:49

Last year we decided to start a support group for single refugee and asylum seeker mothers who were struggling with illness and unemployment. With the number of women coming to our offices seeking help, we saw a great need for support for these women. The project was well received by the participants and this year we were able to expand on this project and develop it further with the support of two UCT Social Work Students who ran a 9 week programme as part of their community coursework. During the course of the 9 weeks the support group participants engaged in different topics which included introductions and expectations of the group and learning about one another and the different backgrounds the women were coming from. They went on to learn about stress and depression, domestic abuse, coping skills, health and well-being, and creative skills. We were also fortunate enough to have Sunyata Choice, from Project Colors, come and do a mosaic workshop with the women.

Surprise Eviction for the Homeless

Tue, 20/12/2011 - 12:42

AMP has always to some degree or other been involved with the foreign people who live under the Culemborg and Kavukiland Bridges. In the past we have provided food, clothing and even CV services to the people living there. As word about AMP’s services got out, there has been a flow of clients from there coming directly to us at our offices.