Please note: The Department of Correctional Services approved the pictures for publication
The Ex-Cell workshop is a partnership between the School of Accountancy at Stellenbosch University and Department of Correctional Services – the first of its kind in South Africa. Its aim is to rehumanise learning by focusing on learning's social, ubuntu-focused dimensions – collaboration, community-building and connectedness. This workshop has a theme of empowering participants to be better prepared for the business world. The educational component pilot project entails SU lecturers and incarcerated participants learning with and from each other through dialogue and the sharing of experience. The workshop takes place at the Drakenstein Correctional Facility near Paarl.
Given the current downturn in the economy, with record unemployment rates, which are set to worsen with the effect of COVID-19, this workshop entails capacity building and exposes participants to the ideas of creating their own businesses and/or potentially looking for employment. Parolees often struggle more than the general population to find employment due to their criminal history counting against them. The Ex-Cell workshop therefore aims to upskill the incarcerated with business acumen skills as well as to provide hope and a link of opportunity and skills to participants.
By promoting educational and economic opportunities for the youth parolees, the project is further guided by the values and strategic themes embedded in SU's Vision 2040 as well as the National Development Plan. Similarly, all stakeholders benefit by learning from one another and sharing ideas, experiences and knowledge.
The Ex-Cell programme is a social impact initiative by Juan Ontong, Sher-Lee Arendse and Ilse Frans, staff members at the School of Accountancy, which is based in SU's Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences.
Contact persons
Mr Juan Ontong E: ontongj@sun.ac.za T: 021 808 9230
Ms Ilse Frans E: ilfrans@sun.ac.za T: 021 808 3400
Ms Sher-Lee Arendse E: sher@sun.ac.za T: 021 808 9941
