As well as providing those in the borrower group with an opportunity to support each other in their projects, the group is responsible for administering the loans, meeting small savings targets, and ensuring repayments. No-one is turned away. Having said that, in the main MES centres work with unemployed people over 40 years of age with the majority being in the over 50 age group. This is because this group has particular needs and usually prefer to discuss their needs with their own peer group. It is as simple as that.
Some people feel that they are missing out on jobs because of age.
Most have been conditioned over the years to travel one particular road and they require assistance to change direction. This is what MES was set up to do help people change direction and start again. Now that's fine in theory, and for some people in professional occupations it presents as a real opportunity, but for others the threats in terms of economic and job security are enormous. But labour, unlike other factors of production, has a capacity for thought and creativity, and an innovative organisation needs to maximise its contribution from labour. This is the view of Ken Chandler of Hamilton, who spoke to a WEA meeting in Palmerston North last week.