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As of May 1st, Employment Opportunity Saba (EOS) has been transferred from The Public Entity Saba to Saba Reach Foundation. EOS is a social assistance program that assists persons who have difficulties finding jobs in the regular labor market. As part of Saba Reach Foundation it will be another development trajectory within that organization, which assists persons in receiving educational qualifications to enter the job market or places persons who may not be able to enter the labor market within a sheltered working environment.
(Photo GIS Saba)
It was the initiative of the Saba Reach Foundation to request that EOS be placed within its scope of programs, because the organization felt that it was missing one aspect in its current offerings and that was a program to facilitate the transition of persons to the regular labor market. The Executive Council was approached and agreed after they were presented with a concept plan that outlined why it would be valuable to all parties to have EOS transferred.
Within the government apparatus, EOS operated as a lone entity and not as part of a larger organization. Having EOS placed under the umbrella will be beneficial to participants as they will have better access to a stronger care network, which includes a care coordinator and an employment facilitator with an emphasis on ethics in the workplace and social skills. Additionally the SRF team can also evaluate whether an applicant may be able to be placed in the workforce or may need to go through one of its other programs such as Second Chance Education, which promotes educational learning and practical internships.
The program, which will be evaluated annually to ensure it meets the required benchmarks, can assist eight persons at a time in finding and maintaining employment. Applicants are considered to have successfully completed the program when they can obtain a contract or an employer has intentions to give a contract after one year.
Employers will also receive assistance in working with applicants. From the beginning there is an initial initiation meeting between the candidate and the employer, after which there is a two week orientation period before formal placement begins so both parties can decide if the placement is a fit for both. La-Toya Charles, Director of Saba Reach Foundation said that the emphasis is “not only on placement but on development.” Ms. Charles says that each candidate will be part of a clear process which will look at their overall development throughout the program.
Ginno Romero, who has overseen the program since its implementation within The Public Entity Saba says that he believes the transfer is “positive” and he is looking forward to working with his new colleagues to assist the applicants. “There will be more coaching and more conversations so that participants can receive more individual attention, which will help them in their personal growth”, said Mr. Romero.
Press release GIS Saba
When ever I read these so called ‘positive developments’ articels for Saba, it makes me wonder what the hell is going on. We have a Saba Reach Foundation, A sociaal Kans Traject Jongeren, a Social Work Place, a Youth and Family office, A social worker in Education, anyone else to support?
Did we ever calculate how much it cost to keep these organisations in place with their respective directors, leaders, co-workers and additional staff? Do we know how many students/adults we are talking about?
It would be interesting to see how much is spent each month on this so called employment program, including all stakeholders, and the amount of people who actually benefit from these programs.
To me it is just a way of keeping those employed in organisations with a solid monthly income while those who are in need of a job/income will bypass the whole system and find themselves jobs that provide an income. Take the lately developed car repair shop next to Teacher Elaine’s house. These young guys did not get the support from the EOS or any other ‘important social labor organisation”. They just started themselves. Same with Patrick’s car wash. He did not receive any advise/support from any social labor department. He just got started with a little money and has a great business now. I can give you many more examples of young people who started their own business without EOS, SKJ, Y&F, SW, or any other ‘important looking’ organisation.
With other words: if you don’t keep yourself looking important, no one else will. My advise: get rid of all these so called foundations with social experts, who are only interested in their monthly pay, and get some real local people in place who understand the local culture and the needs of these young people and who are seen on the streets instead of behind their desks.
For the outsider it looks as a great initiative, but for the insider this is just another bureaucratic development where certain individuals will benefit from.