Introduction
In the context of its Corporate Social Responsibility, MCB Group, under the aegis of the MCB Forward Foundation (MCBFF) has implemented a comprehensive social integration project at Cité Tôle, Mahebourg. The project entails the implementation of an integrated social housing project for six low-income families of Cité Tôle. The project was aimed at providing decent housing facilities to these families, offering them sustainable sources of income, and assisting various psycho-social issues which are rampant in their community. The MCB Forward Foundation has provided support to the families involved in regards to psycho-social issues since 2013 and has also accompanied them in their journey to find alternative sources of income. The construction of houses then represented one further step in the integrated project and was launched in October 2017. The brand new housing units were then delivered in October 2018.
Our approach
Group Sessions
73 group sessions were undertaken on various subjects such as sexuality, substance abuse and conflicts management.
Axes of intervention
Education
5 beneficiaries were referred to special education needs schools, resulting in increased self-esteem and improvement in academic results as well as positive behavioural change.
Health
Individual counselling sessions, 159 couple counselling sessions, 27 follow ups and referrals to other health services were undertaken. A food aid program for 3 families was also implemented as well as psycho-social accompaniment for 11 beneficiaries.
Job Profiling
Profiling of 20 women to identify skills and training needs for appropriate job referrals was carried out.
Integrated Projects
3 youths completed the "Project Employabilité Jeunes" training course offered by Beachcomber and 2 of them are currently employed at the Shandrani and Preskil hotels.
An 8-month workshop as well as 14 awareness sessions were held, in which 8 women of Cité Tôle participated. These were part of our Employability and social integration program. 15 training sessions on alternative livelihood opportunities were also held, focusing on the nearby Barachois Rochecouste.
Adult literacy program
6 months workshop for 15 participants from Cité Tôle
Barachois Community Project
A core team comprising 8 beneficiaries was set up for the implementation of an Aquaculture Farm in Barachois Rochecouste near Cité Tôle. 15 training sessions on livelihood opportunities were held in this context.
Referrals
Environment
In the context of the Integrated Social Housing project of Cité Tôle – a Waste Management Program was initiated with the aim of creating an awareness on waste management in the community and also in order to sensitise the inhabitants, irrespective of their age groups, on waste management and the protection of the environment.
Sensitisation workshops were held with a group/core team comprising 12 adults, from March to August 2017, and an awareness program was conducted in March 2017 targeting 32 children.
Sensitisation programs on aquaculture and waste management were also conducted in June 2017 targeting 50 youngsters from Cité Tôle and La Chaux. In July 2017, various activities and educational tours were organised for the core team in partnership with 7 associations/NGO’s so as to sensitise participants on waste management and the environmental protection.
In October 2017, 14 eco bins and 3 recycling bins for PET bottles were installed in the vicinity of Cité la Chaux and Cité Tôle to enable proper waste management for the inhabitants, following which a survey carried out in the region.
Families
Stephanie AZOR
Gifted with particular sewing skills, she is working at Magic Fingers an NGO involved in the recycling of used textile and other materials and has also worked at ‘’La Maison LIONNET’’ a fashion house specializing in ‘’haute couture’’
Stephanie AZOR
Dylans Dupont
The youngest among the beneficiaries, Dylans is a self-made man who had to take family responsibilities since he was a youngster – he is a hard worker who does not hesitate to go the extra mile for any job opportunity – His dream would be to become an entrepreneur and have his own lorry for implementing a heavy duty transport service.
Dylans Dupont
Marie Anne Faron
Marie Anne works in the security sector as well as the service sector involving the renting of sea front bungalows – she is very dedicated to her job and sometimes has to work long hours in order to fulfill the requirements of the business
Giovanni Keisler
Giovanni is a professional fisherman and would like to become a tradesman for fish products
Joanna is the owner of a food handling certificate and now sells her own food in the vicinity of Cite Tole and La chaux
The children were initially attending SENS but have since reintegrated the main stream at secondary level
Giovanni Keisler
Anaiche Prodigue
Anaiche Prodigue
Lorraine Monrose
Loraine works for an NGO who looks after handicapped adults and is very dedicated to the beneficiaries of the NGO