Finding Common Purpose between a corporate business and prison
authorities in India
How a Navigator graduate from London made new
connections in Cape Town through Common Purpose
Neil Berry took part in the Common Purpose Navigator course in
2006 whilst he was working with the London Development Agency. Neil
is a regular visitor to South Africa, and after finding out during
the course that Common Purpose operates there was determined to
link up with them.
In 2011, on notice of redundancy, Neil decided to take a whole
month off to volunteer in South Africa and in particular in Cape
Town. A few of his friends suggested some charities that
might need some help but none were in the Cape Town area, so he
emailed the local Common Purpose Course Director, Melanie Burke, to
see if she was aware of anyone who might need some support. Melanie
recognised that the easiest way to arrange this would be to put him
in touch with the participants of the current International
Navigator course taking place there, and invited him to attend the
first day.
"Watching the presentations and discussions took me back to my own
Navigator experience," said Neil. "My initial curiosity resurfaced
as well as memories of all the positive experiences. I was reminded
of the interesting and unexpected people I met on my course, many
of whom I remain firm friends with.
"Delivered with good humour and esprit, the theme was 'power' and
given the history of South Africa, the political context was a much
stronger theme for the Cape Town group than it had been in London.
I was enthralled by the stories and achievements of many of the
participants, both during the fight for freedom and since, as they
work collectively to address the issues facing many South Africans
today."
Neil met Tove de Chazal from Stop Hunger Now, and spent some time
with her understanding how her NGO works and looking for ways to
help create economic value in such organisations.
"I met so many wonderful and inspirational participants and as I
left was a little envious that their Navigator journey was only
just beginning," said Neil. "I am indebted to Common Purpose South
Africa and the all participants for welcoming me so warmly."
David Lobo, Director at Deejay Hatcheries, has put his words
into action when he played an instrumental part in the creation of
a pioneering initiative between Himalaya Herbal Healthcare and
Karntaka's Department of Prison Rehabilitation.
David visited the Central Prison in Bangalore on his Common
Purpose course which inspired him to develop the project. The
project will see prison inmates cultivating medicinal herbs for
Himalaya on a buy-back basis. In turn, this will enable
skill-building and employment generation targeting prisoners with
minor offences, who have shown good behaviour and a desire to
rebuild their lives.
"If it hadn't have been for Common Purpose, I would never have
visited Central Prison and developed this project and the private
sector - government collaboration which it involves" said
David. "We hope that in turn, Common Purpose participants will
have the opportunity to visit the project and it will inspire
others to develop pioneering projects of their own."
Recently, after a conversation with Mr. Rajan Hinduja of
Gokuldas Exports (one of the largest garment manufacturers in the
country), David has also set up a tailoring training centre in the
Central Jail, in which female convicts will be taught tailoring
skills - this is in the final stages of completion. The next stage
is for a garment factory to be set up in the jail, in which
permanent employment will be created and skills honed. Garments
made in the factory will be marketed by the Garment Manufacturers
Association of India. Furthermore a commitment to employ several
thousand trained ex-convicts has also been made by the same
Association.
