Connecting with Jennifer Tallack
in South Africa
Jennifer Tallack, Executive Director, Dependable Strengths
Foundation in Johannesburg, South Africa, proivdes
her insight into the value of Dependable Strengths… |
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Jennifer, how did you come to know about Dependable Strengths?
Reverend Philip Dixie heard Dr Bernard Haldane give a 3-minute
exposé of Dependable Strengths at a clergy meeting.
He was so taken by Bernard’s stories he and his wife
later met Jean and Bernard for lunch. His enthusiasm for
a process that changed attitudes in schools from negative
to positive and enabled the unemployed to find work was passed
on to me.
I was lucky to be invited to visit Seattle with a team of
eight South Africans and learn the process. At the time I
had no idea of where this experience would lead, but I was
enchanted with the idea of visiting Seattle! The experience
of going through the Dependable Strengths Process had a powerful
and life changing effect.
How do you feel about the current progress
of DS in South Africa?
There has been marvellous growth of DS
in South Africa. We have 50 trained facilitators in Johannesburg
and 35 in
other provinces. The facilitators work part time, coming
on board when their services are required. Over the past
three years we have taken over 400 participants through the
process.
In a 2003 survey of the job seekers
contacted, 64% had found work,
And 98% said that the DS Process had had a positive effect
on their lives and given them hope.
We are expanding outside the Johannesburg area. We have Operating
Groups in the University of the North in Polokwane, and in
Rhodes University in the Eastern Cape. We have an Operating
Group in Germiston running with a Women’s Community
Centre. A group of four facilitators runs weekly courses
there. The course has been successful with sufferers of depression
and those infected with HIV/Aids.
How do you feel about the future of DS in South Africa?
There are endless possibilities for growth. We have only
begun to scratch the surface.
Unemployment runs at 40% in South Africa and we need to take
DS courses to many more of the areas where unemployment is
concentrated. To this end we are exploring links with government
and other NGO’s. Our links with organisations such
as Rotary and churches are growing.
We are ready to take the DSA process into corporations and
hope to create a situation, which will result in a cash flow
to use for the unemployed. We are hoping to work more in
schools and are in contact with educators to achieve this.
What is your personal opinion of DS?
It is a marvellous process. The people who go through the
Dependable Strengths process are able to value themselves.
I love facilitating and continue to be amazed at the transformation
of each participant.
What do you particularly value about DS?
DS benefits all who go through the process. It gives the
participants a genuine life skills tool. It does not require
any high technology and is easy to transport anywhere. It
cuts across barriers of race, sex and age. The process works!
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