Social enterprise BuildBack and the U-Turn foundation, which supports the homeless, are working together to create jobs for people who want to stand on their own two feet again.

South Africa (July 9, 2024) – Formerly needy people are finding their feet while also getting the chance to make a real difference. Programs connecting U-Turn Homeless Ministries and BuildBack help people in need learn useful skills and become job-ready; they even find full-time employment and give back to charities!

BuildBack was founded in 2005 by Keith Robbertze and the idea was to create jobs for people who needed to learn and improve themselves. He invested all his energy in building a one-stop construction company with reliable people, who he trained to catch their own fish and provide for their families. The concept behind BuildBack is to help people bring Build Back into their communities.

U-Turn’s goal is to provide the homeless community with access to social workers, homeless support workers, occupational therapists, counselors, trainers, and life coaches. These individuals work through various programs that address the needs of the homeless community and help them reintegrate into society, get off the streets, and seek the treatment needed to combat addiction.

Many people who participate in U-Turn’s programs end up at BuildBack. Keith said they provide employment and skills development, as well as counseling services, to people who have been unemployed, homeless, addicted, gangsters, or simply on the streets due to circumstances.

He said the program they are involved in has an 83% success rate. People who were once on the streets are still employed, housed and sober after six years of follow-up data.

The participants of the joint project also did work to give back. They made dog kennels for animal welfare organizations. The U-Turn team was overjoyed when they received 10 fully made kennels for animal welfare.

Together with the two organizations, lives are actually changed.

Sources: GTG interview

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