US News

Update on DS activities in South Africa

Courses:

• Various Dependable Strengths courses were organized and facilitated in Soweto, St. Thomas, Linden and Durban North, averaging from 8-15 participants per class.
  
  
• Rhodes University in the Eastern Cape organized their first training since they formed a team in November 2003. They had 20 participants and did a self-esteem (now named Discovery as in self discovery) and team building.
  
  
• The Alexandra Branch of the Johannesburg Central College did a very successful DS course (organized by the Rotary) for 15 students. They are intending to run a course every quarter.
  
  
• Four DS facilitators are running DS courses weekly for the “Kwaze-Kwasi Project with 200 women at the Ellerines Community Development Center in Germiston, Johannesburg. Building self-esteem and teams are a big focus.

DS Outreach:

• The Rotary organization which markets Dependable Strengths is keen to use it in their outreach programs.
  
  
• Alastair Graham from Port Elizabeth runs a training college called Creative Minds that trains basic skills and is negotiating with the Sectors for Education and Training (SETAs) to get funding so that all their students can incorporate DS in their programs.
  
  
• SOS Children’s Villages are interested in the DSA process for their matriculants.
  
  
• The Business Group headed by Heloise Dixie as the Project Manager has developed
  materials for marketing DS in the form of brochures, insert materials for a folder, and a
  PowerPoint presentation. Courses offered to corporations include Discovery (self esteem), Team Building and Job Magnet. The Group is now embarking on an aggressive marketing campaign to corporations.

Funding:

The New Settlers Foundation donated R50,000 for running DS courses. About R20,000 of this is
pledged to keep the Ellerines Initiative going. Six other DS courses will be sponsored with the
balance of the donation.

Public Benefit Organization:

In terms of new legislation passed by the South African government , the DS Foundation is required to become a Public Benefit Organization for tax exemption status.

Education:

We are currently negotiating introducing a pilot course based on Pat Huggins' Helping Kids to
Find their Strengths, accompanied by the Outcomes Based Supplement developed by Edna
Rooth in SA, in a private school and a public school.