Car wash offers a clean start in life
_small.jpg)
Car wash offers a clean start in life
30 April 2019
A new Salvation Army car wash facility in southern Norway is helping people facing difficult circumstances integrate back into society.
The Salvation Army in Tønsberg, southern Norway, has opened a car wash facility in response to the ongoing challenge of how to integrate people back into society after they have spent time in prison, rehabilitation or following other periods of social exclusion.
It provides training and employment for a number of staff who have experienced difficulties in life.
The name of the car wash facility is ‘Såpa’ – which translates as ‘the soap’ – reflecting The Salvation Army motto in Norway: ‘Soup, soap and salvation’. True to this holistic approach, Såpa seeks to provide an opportunity for people to engage in meaningful work, regardless of their past situation or their current mental or physical health.
Henning Wick, who had been in and out of rehab and jail for 20 years, is in charge of the daily running of Såpa. He controls the pressure washer with precision and checks every car personally before it is driven off.
_small.jpg&width=350&height=234)
The new car wash facility is helping to tackle social exclusion.
Henning is also an important role model for other employees. “The only thing I demand of the others is that they don’t show up to work while under the influence of drugs or alcohol,” he says.
“If they happen to have a bad day, I send them home – but they are always welcome back. I, for one, understand the importance of a second chance.”
The Salvation Army in Norway is always looking for new ways of developing its work training programs. Job training is a big part of The Salvation Army remedy for tackling social exclusion and poverty in Norway. Fretex, a fully-owned subsidiary of The Salvation Army, has become the biggest job training company in the country.
In Tønsberg, The Salvation Army is synonymous with innovation. By combining the forces of the corps with the rehabilitation and recycling industry, the work has been revitalised and new opportunities for outreach made possible.
The Salvation Army presence in the city goes beyond the local corps and thrift shop, and now includes a café, concert venue, bike workshop, textile production and print house as well as the new car wash.
Every month the corps also moves its Sunday service into the concert venue, which has significantly increased participation from the local community compared with when the nearby church hall was used.
“I highly recommend Såpa,” says the Mayor of Tønsberg, Petter Berg. “I had the opportunity to test the facility and have my own car washed, and the result was wonderful. The Salvation Army is a respected organisation in our community and I am impressed by how they manage to create meaningful lives for people through work and activities.”
Comments
I feel strongly about it and really like mastering more on this subject. If feasible, as you acquire experience, would you mind updating your blog with much more information. It is very helpful for me. thanks for sharing an amazing information.