Empowering communities and transforming lives
Dekra IOL’s Community Development Facilitator skills programme
Dekra IOL has expanded its Community Development Facilitator skills programme, which is focused
on empowering community leaders and transforming lives, to feature an insightful substance abuse
counselling component. The result is that the programme very effectively integrates substance
abuse education and counselling into the broader context of community development.
Community upliftment
One of the primary goals of the programme is to uplift communities by equipping individuals with
skills to support those struggling with substance abuse. Christopher Mörsner, Head of Training and
Consulting at Dekra IOL explains: “We aim to enable community leaders to provide crucial support
in areas where private healthcare is inaccessible, helping people to recover from the scourge of
addiction and rebuild their lives.”
The curriculum provides a deep understanding of the impact of drug and alcohol abuse. Key
components include facilitating education and awareness on substance abuse, staging interventions
with those suffering from addiction and promoting public awareness of substance addiction and its
negative impact on individuals, families and the broader community.
Quality and Effectiveness
DEKRA IOL collaborates closely with the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) to
provide real-world insights and best practices from experienced community leaders and mental
health professionals.
Sias Esterhuizen, Team Leader at DEKRA IOL notes: “Our trainers are respected community
leaders and life coaches, who are dedicated to raising awareness and promoting positive change.
Their real-world experience ensures that the training is practical and impactful.”
In-person and personal
Mörsner underlines the importance of the ‘in-person and personal’ aspect of Dekra IOL’s community
development facilitator skills programme. This approach ensures that participants receive hands-on,
face-to-face instruction and support, which is crucial for dealing with sensitive issues such as
substance abuse.
“While we do offer hybrid training, the nature of this course allows for a vital personal interaction
between our trainers and students. This fosters a deeper understanding and a stronger commitment
to the programme’s community development and empowerment-related objectives,” he emphasises.
Practical preparation
The programme prepares participants to handle real-world challenges by teaching integrity-based
leadership skills and ethical practices. Furthermore, by prioritising in-person training and
interactions, Dekra IOL ensures that attendees are well-prepared to handle the challenges of
community development and substance abuse counselling with empathy, and a robust range of
practical skills. Students learn how to arrange community awareness raising events, promote mental
health and effectively manage substance abuse challenges.
“We equip our participants with the necessary skills to create positive and tangible outcomes, in
community settings and formal workplaces,” Mörsner points out.
DEKRA IOL also remains committed to remaining abreast of the latest developments in community
development facilitation, continually reviewing policies and procedures – and learning from
experience – to ensure the programme remains relevant and effective.
Since its launch, the first group of students have already enrolled in the programme, and Dekra IOL
has received positive feedback for its comprehensive and practical approach: “Partnering with
SADAG is a success story in itself!” enthuses Esterhuizen. “The feedback from participants
highlights the programme’s value – and the new perspectives it provides on handling cases of
depression, anxiety, and substance abuse.”
The Community Development Facilitator skills programme is more than just a training initiative: it
embodies the Dekra IOL’s commitment to making a tangible difference. By equipping individuals
with the skills required to effectively address substance abuse, DEKRA IOL is empowering
community leaders to foster healthier, more resilient communities: “In line with our ethos and tagline,
we are ‘expanding our roots for a brighter future,’ and this includes transforming how people think
about substance abuse and the community support offered to those affected.
Our commitment to holistic community development – together with SADAG’s input and guidance –
ensures that this distinctive skills programme not only transforms lives but also builds stronger, more
sustainable communities in the long term,” Mörsner concludes.
About Dekra Industrial and Institute of Learning
With 99 years in the industry through its global parent company, Dekra Industrial SA has established
a formidable reputation as a leader in inspection services, non-destructive testing (NDT), material
testing, laboratory services, Advanced NDT, and asset integrity services, and offers industry training
through the Dekra Institute of Learning (IOL).
As part of the global Dekra group, which has a presence in more than 50 countries on five
continents, Dekra Industrial RSA provides safety solutions across a multitude of industries, including
power generation, oil and gas, construction, petrochemical, manufacturing, fabrication, pulp and
paper, rail, mining, steel industry and foundries, within South Africa and pan-Africa.
Dekra Industrial SA is a holistic services provider of NDT inspection and corrosion control with rope
access and lifting. The company has 51 percent black woman ownership and has achieved a
current overall Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) status of Level 1.
Dekra Industrial SA is also RD 0034-compliant – a nuclear safety compliance standard – and is one
of the few NDT companies locally to hold the ISO 45001:2018 certification; as well as DNV
certification, giving DEKRA Industrial access to many inspection opportunities in the maritime
sector.
The Dekra Institute of Learning (IOL) is QCTO-accredited and delivers online learning across all
industries, in both public and private sectors, with training pitched to all levels of competency,
focusing on HSE, ISO and continuing professional development (CPD)-aligned courses. Classroom-
based and distance learning are also available.
DEKRA Industrial strives to be recognised as the ‘heroes of safety’.
