A Cape Town cafe employs former prisoners to reduce reoffending

The Message Trust South Africa opened the Gangstar Café in Mowbray to provide employment and training for former prisoners in Cape Town.

The organization uses the coffee shop as a practical space for people to transition from prison to community life. By offering stable jobs, the organization aims to break the cycle of crime that often occurs when former inmates cannot find work due to their criminal records.

The Message Trust South Africa provides entrepreneurship and life skills training to people at the Drakenstein Correctional Centre. These students participate in job readiness courses, including mock interviews and CV writing, before receiving barista training from the Red Band Barista Academy. After completing these courses, some graduates find work at the Gangstar Café, while others are connected to larger coffee shop chains or become managers and instructors. The café also generates work through catered events and a mobile coffee trailer.

This model provides a reliable income for former inmates, who often face significant barriers to finding employment. Some employees report that these roles have allowed them to move into stable housing and move away from past involvement with drugs and gangs. The organization reported that it facilitated over 70 graduations for its barista and job readiness courses this year.