Sparkigniting local action

June 2013 Issue 8

a newsletter for civil society and local government

Inside this issueGoodbye from the Spark teamWorking together for a better startAn innovative way to deliver medicineThriving on recyclable wasteParticipating in the development of South Africa’s National Health InsuranceTraining black farmers for successGiving a helping handBridging the communication divide

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Empowering South Africans to take action in their lives, families and communities is

the theme of Spark. Sizwe Nzima was inspired by the immediate needs of his family members to found a small business. Unable to find employment in the formal economy, Nzima mustered the resources he could to create a livelihood for himself and others, while providing a useful and affordable service to his community.

While drawing on his own entrepreneurial spirit, Nzima also benefitted from family and community support and the mentorship of

a private sector academy. The partnership and network that he drew on helped to spark an idea that has taken off, and has the potential to expand to other areas.

This last edition of Spark profiles a number of similarly inspiring initiatives. It bears testimony to the power of partnerships, and the long-term impact that well-designed internship and mentorship opportunities make.

*Spark is a partnership between the Parliamentary Monitoring Group and String Communication with funding from the Ford Foundation.

See page 4

Inspired by the needs of his grandparents, 21-year old Sizwe Nzima founded a business in Khayelitsha that now delivers medicine to 250 clients.

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Zaheedah Adams Tholakele Nene

This is the last Spark newsletter, which has been a joint

product of the Parliamentary Monitoring Group and String Communication. It was inspired by a plethora of research reports that did not speak directly to the people who most need to know about great ideas and life-changing projects that are easy to replicate across the country.

The eight issues of Spark showcased partnerships between individuals, community organisations, funding organisations, business

and government, especially municipalities. The response to the newsletter was always positive and, judging by the feedback we received, ‘sparked’ many others to follow suit. It is this kind of initiative that will transform life in our cities, towns and rural areas.

Without the generous funding of the Ford Foundation, Spark would not have been possible. We would like to thank them for their support.

Zaheedah Adams and Tholakele NeneProject co-ordinators

Farewell from the Spark team

Over the past two years we received great feedback

from organisations and government officials that we worked with, as well as our readers.

‘Thought it was a lovely newsletter. With its emphasis on empowerment projects, the publication is also a good read for civil servants, organisations and people in general looking for ideas on how to make a positive difference in the lives of communities. I'd be proud to be associated with a publication of this nature. You really do a great job.’

– Laura-Leigh, Media Liaison Officer, Kouga Local Municipality

‘Wow! What a newsletter!! I’ve got hold of this material and read it through. I’m managing the Community Development Workers (CDWs) in the Eastern Cape Dept of Local Government and Traditional Affairs.’– Simphiwe Mini, Directorate: Municipal Public Participation, Department of Local Government & Traditional Affairs, Eastern Cape

‘I thoroughly enjoy reading your newsletter - the articles are interesting and awe-inspiring, reflecting the very reason why it is crucial that civil society and local government work together. I hope that these stories inspire others to join forces for the greater good of our South African citizens.’

– Claudia Lopes, Project Coordinator, Heinrich Böll

‘After your publication about our project, we had a range of people from community stakeholders, governmental institutions and prospective donors asking to know about Operation Hunger and its tank-building activities. As a result, Operation Hunger in partnership with the Department of Water Affairs trained 23 volunteers in tank building in Eshowe KwaZulu-Natal.’

– Jeffrey Mulaudzi, Limpopo Regional Coordinator, Operation Hunger

‘I have just been sent a copy of your inspiring newsletter – Issue 4. I must congratulate you on a wonderful document full of interesting stories.’

– Julie Staub, Funding Coordinator, Outward Bound

‘I am particularly impressed with Spark, it’s easy to read and it has interesting topics and ideas that assist me in my daily work. I wish the magazine can grow in leaps and bounds.’

– Mike Makwela, Programme Manager, Planact

‘I have just had a look at the October edition of Spark. Really pleased to see this magazine showcase stories like these. Hopefully more stories will start to flood your desks in future.’

– Dr Kevin Winter, University of Cape Town

‘This is an excellent newsletter. It gave us detailed information on projects with contact details. It also provides contact info for networking and info sharing sessions. Congratulations on an excellent publication.’

– Robert Abbu, Deputy Head: Strategic and New Development, Durban Solid Waste: Cleansing and Solid Waste Unit

‘Spark newsletter gives the story to the ordinary people in simple easy to read language. It enables NGOs and government

departments among others to share best practices. It is a key advocacy tool as it is linked to parliamentarians who these stories also target so that they will formulate and implement pro-poor policies.’

– Stanley Maphosa, Advocacy and External Engagements Advisor, World Vision South Africa

‘The publication as a whole is excellent, well laid out and formatted and in fact I have just sent it to our PR team to utilise as an example for our next newsletter.’

– Eurakha Singh, Manager in the Development Division , eThekwini Municipality

‘I am impressed with the newsletter which is something I have only seen for the first time.’

– Palesa Tsele, Tourism and Investment Coordinator, Lesedi Local Municipality

What our readers say

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alternative energy

In many poor communities, young children do not have access to proper early

education facilities, some being housed in shacks, mud buildings or under trees. In Newcastle in the northwest corner of KwaZulu-Natal, Othandweni crèche was one such facility, where young children received their first experience of education in a rickety, informal structure.

But that has changed, under the leadership of a local NGO called Khulisa Social Solutions, working with the departments of social development and health, the crèche management and teachers, the Lions Club and enthusiastic members of the community. Today, the crèche is housed in a safe and solid stone building and life has changed for the children and the staff.

The Othandweni crèche project was started in 2011 using the Social Transformations Systems Model, which focuses on reducing crime and violence in the area by improving early childhood development.

According to project manager

Paul Bushell, the need for a crèche upgrade was identified through Khulisa’s diversion project. ‘Basically this says that instead of children who had committed crimes going to jail, we will take them and mentor them.’ Khulisa was using the Othandweni crèche as a venue to host awareness campaigns aimed at reducing crime. ‘It seemed like a logical progression to start improving the experiences of the young children at the crèche through improving the infrastructure,’ says Bushell. ‘The idea was that if we catch them early, we stop them early.’

How it worksRecognising the need to improve the crèche building, the next step was to get community members, departments and stakeholders involved. A meeting was held to get stakeholders to draft their vision for the crèche, setting out what they would like to see improved and what they could contribute with the resources and knowledge they have.

The Department of Health volunteered to introduce an

ongoing mobile clinic system to check on the school and health of the children in the area. The Department of Social Development undertook to assist the crèche with its registration as a non-profit organisation. Khulisa sourced funding from the community to build the crèche and donations to purchase play equipment for the children. The team from the Lions Club helped with the building. The local Dannhauser municipality provided water for the building process and continues to supply water to the school. Five community members were employed to build the school and teachers assisted with moving material and cleaning up. The Community Project Workers (CPW) programme helped plant grass and tend to the newly planted trees.

The project took about six months to complete. Now the 86 children aged between two and five years have proper play equipment, and are housed in a building with solid walls, stable doors, windows and proper roofing. There is also an improved kitchen, a water

collection system, a veranda for wet weather and a functional toilet system.

Talking about the changes, teacher Anita Shamase says, ‘I’m speechless! I mean if you saw the children now and the crèche and the way it was before you would be too. We have now moved from teaching in a shack to teaching in a proper stone building. There’s an improved jungle gym, water tanks and more toys for the children. Everyone did a great job.’

Working together for a better startIn Newcastle, an NGO called Khulisa Social Solutions worked in partnership with the community and various government and private stakeholders to rebuild a crèche facility to improve education and early childhood development.

Working togetherThe project is a partnership between:• The Dannhauser Municipality • Khulisa Social Solutions• Othandweni crèche • The community• The local Department of

Health • The local Department of

Social Development • The Community Project

Workers Programme• Lions ClubFor more informationPaul BushellProject Manager: Khulisa Social SolutionsEmail: Bushellpaul@live.co.za

The project has provided a safe and improved environment for early childhood education.

Five community members were employed to build the crèche.

EDUCATION

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In one of Cape Town’s largest townships a 21-year-old entrepreneur has started

an initiative called Iyeza Express, motivated by his own long wait for medication for his grandparents.

Sizwe Nzima is a graduate of the Raymond Ackerman Academy, a post-matric academy that offers an inspiring six-month full-time programme in entrepreneurial development.

‘After completing my secretary course I struggled to get a job,’ he says. ‘I applied to the academy to pursue my second career option, which was business.’

At the academy Nzima started to brainstorm business ideas. He came up with the Iyeza Express concept in response to the frustration of having to wait in long queues to collect medicine at the local clinic, either in the morning or in the afternoon. Whenever he collected the medication in the mornings, he was late for school.

His idea was for a service to collect chronic medication from day hospitals and clinics in the Khayelitsha area and deliver it by ‘environmentally friendly’ bicycles to patients in their homes on the correct prescribed date. An affordable fee of R10 would be charged.

An innovative way to deliver medicine A bicycle courier service promotes access to health and encourages treatment adherence.

Sizwe Nzima has turned his idea for home-based care into a promising business.

HealtHcare

Nzima makes Forbes listAs Spark was going to print Forbes Magazine announced that Sizwe Nzima was listed on its best young entrepreneurs list for Africa.

Forbes is an American business magazine and is well known for its lists, which are of interest to a global audience.

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In Khayelitsha, access to clinics is a challenge and many residents simply can’t afford to take a day off work to sit in long queues.

Working togetherThe project is a partnership between:• Iyeza Express• The community• Local clinics• Raymond Ackerman

Academy• Khayelitsha Chronic

Dispensary Unit

For more informationSizwe NzimaIyeza Express Phone: 074 453 3633Email: Sizwe.nzima@yahoo.com

His first step was to find out who was the right person to speak to. Nzima approached the district manager responsible for the Khayelitsha Chronic Dispensary Unit about the idea. With his support, the next step was to approach local clinics to find out how many people would be interested in the delivery service. His research showed that a large number of people would like this home-based care type of service.

Once the concept had taken shape it needed a financial boost to get off the ground. Nzima entered a number of competitions to source funds for the Iyeza Express project.

First he won a Best Entrepreneurial Student award at the academy for his concept. Using the R10 000 prize money he purchased two bicycles, some t-shirts, a phone, business cards and sturdy first-aid bags in which to carry the medication. He also set aside money to maintain the bicycles.

In 2012 Iyeza Express was

launched with two employees, two bicycles and two clients, his grandparents. Soon the news spread, and his client base quickly grew to 100. Currently it sits at 250, with four employees based in different sections of the township delivering to the elderly and those needing medication who cannot take a day off work to sit in long queues. According to Nzima, the service also helps people adhere to their treatment.

In 2012 Nzima entered the SAB Social Innovation Awards, coming sixth and winning R100 000, which he used to further expand his business. With this money Nzima was able to purchase four new bicycles, provide branded uniforms for his staff, develop a logistics system to keep his data, get access to the internet, and buy a new cellphone and a laptop to do his work properly.

Now staff members wear branded lime-and-grey jackets with navy trousers. During rainy weather they have raincoats to make sure that the

medication gets to the right people on time.

This successful concept also won a grand prize of R10 000 at the Cape Town Entrepreneurship Week competition held early this year.

What the future holdsWith the business now fully operational in Khayelitsha, there are plans to expand to other areas of Cape Town and perhaps nationally. Nzima has approached the Western Cape Department of Health to work with the department’s home-based care programmes. He is also seeking assistance from private donors to expand and improve the service.

‘We are keen to make sure that everyone gets their medication on time, regardless of where they live, who they are and what their age is. We encourage healthy living. We are also keen on improving the problem with youth unemployment,’ says Nzima.

‘We plan to employ young people in the community who have few skills other than the

ability to navigate the maze of the area they live in. We will also give the educated ones an opportunity to practice their business or health or technical skills in improving the service. I believe this will change the negative mentality that many young people have when it comes to giving back to the community,’ he adds.

What makes Iyeza Express stand out, according to Nzima, are its unique customer-care benefits, its use of environmental friendly bicycles and the affordable service it offers.

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environment

An environmental non-profit organisation, operating in Hout Bay in Cape Town with the support of the municipality, has developed a recycling project that makes the community aware of the economic and environmental benefits of reducing waste.

Thriving on recyclable waste

In 2007, 15 residents of Hout Bay got together to revive a recycling project that had

been going for about 10 years. Inspired by the vision for a zero-waste Hout Bay, Thrive has used the slogan ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’ to educate the community about recycling. Today, the initiative has not only changed the recycling culture, but also the approach that schools and local businesses have taken to waste disposal.

‘Whether you are rich or poor, everyone generates waste,’ says founder and community

coordinator, Bronwen Lankers-Byrne. ‘Thrive teaches people to be mindful about waste, mindful about what we use, buy and throw away. We educate schools, local businesses and restaurants. We don’t throw anything away that has value, which for us is almost everything. Our vision is to create a Hout Bay where people are mindful of each other and their environment.’

When the project started, 10 women from the community went to schools in the area to promote awareness of Thrive’s activities include educating and encouraging recycling at schools.

Ten people are employed to manage the cooperative, with other residents encouraged to recycle in exchange for food and grocery vouchers.

Spark 7recycling. But they soon realised that these efforts were not effective, because there was no accessible drop-off point for recyclable waste. The organisation decided to resurrect the Hout Bay Recycling Cooperative on the site of a local waste drop-off facility. Within months, Thrive and the City of Cape Town had partnered to get the cooperative up and running, with 10 Imizamo Yethu residents collecting and sorting recyclable waste, and managing it at the drop-off point.

How it worksThrive uses every opportunity to educate the community and to encourage a recycling culture. Jobs are also being created and there is less waste being taken to landfills.

Some of Thrive’s initiatives include providing each school in the area with a recycling bin for each classroom and a mentor to educate and encourage teachers, staff and learners to recycle. Leaflets explaining what to and what not to recycle are distributed in the community, and local newspapers are used to spread the word. Shoppers are also encouraged to strip their groceries of unnecessary packaging at their local supermarkets and this recyclable waste is collected and taken to the drop-off.

During 2011 and 2012, about 300 tons of recyclable waste was diverted from the landfill and over 2 000 tons of garden waste was composted.

The City of Cape Town’s manager of collection and drop-off facilities, Trevor Carroll, is impressed by the project. He says the municipality is considering rolling out the model to 18 other drop-offs around Cape Town.

‘We have supported Hout Bay Recycling and provided them with shelter and electricity. But the success of the project came from Thrive’s dedication. This isn’t something that just happens, it takes passion. When you have people with passion, it’s easy to get drawn into the excitement,’ he says.

The 10 residents of Imizamo Yethu who manage the recycling cooperative, collecting and sorting waste, can earn about R2 000 a month selling recyclable material. Other residents are encouraged through a reward system to recycle their waste. Waste is exchanged for vouchers for the local supermarket and spaza shops and for restaurant meals. This has made a big difference to several hundred residents.

One of those who have benefited from the project is Nokwanda Sotyantya. She works as the supervisor at the cooperative. ‘Recycling changed my life. Before this I didn’t have many skills. Now I have learnt about recycling, business and working with different kinds of people. Recycling is like living for me now. My community – and even my grandfather – know how to recycle and what is recyclable. But we don’t only do it to make money, we do it to help the planet.’

Carroll says that it is encouraging that the entire community is involved and that the reward system has helped the area, especially the spaza shops in Imizamo Yethu. ‘We support the project fully. It encourages economic development as well as job creation. The City has to meet requirements of the waste minimisation policy and this project helps us achieve those goals,’ he says.

A food garden initiative was an obvious extension of the waste project. There is a direct link between the two, says Bronwen Lankers-Byrne. Organic food waste can be separated from the rest of the waste and used to make compost for fertiliser.

As part of Thrive’s school programme, mentors hold workshops at the schools to teach learners and the staff how to make compost heaps, worm farms and fertiliser tea for their food gardens. The idea is that learners will pass information on to their families and communities. Many Hout Bay residents have already started their own food gardens.

She adds that the children are excited about the food

garden, and they especially love the worms. ‘The kids see the whole process – they see that there is land and organic waste that can be used to grow food that will fill their tummies.’

Thrive has also helped to plant 100 fruit and nut trees at local schools. A further 300 will be planted by September this year.

‘Our vision is to carry on uniting Hout Bay by creating tangible projects that people can get involved in, starting with schools and youth, and spreading throughout the community. So, we say – no potential should be wasted, nothing needs to be thrown away, everything must be used as a potential resource and no one should go hungry.’

From waste to wellness

Workshops are held at schools, where learners are taught how to make compost heaps and tend to food gardens.

Working togetherThe project is a partnershipbetween:• Thrive, a non-profit

organisation• The Hout Bay Recycling

Cooperative• The City of Cape Town• The Hout Bay community• Local schools and businesses• UNEP SEED Awards

For more informationBronwen Lankers-ByrneCommunity coordinator of ThrivePhone: 082 318 3308 or 021790 7226E-mail: bronwen@thrive.org.zaWebsite: www.thrive.org.za

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PUBlic ParticiPation

Participating in the development of South Africa’s National Health Insurance The South African government has begun to pilot the National Health Insurance (NHI), a financing system that aims to ensure that all citizens and legal long-term residents are provided with essential healthcare, regardless of their employment status and ability to make a direct monetary contribution to the NHI Fund.

By ELROY PAULUS

In 2011, 10 NHI pilot sites were identified, with an emphasis on areas with

the greatest need, especially in terms of child and maternal mortality rates, life expectancy, HIV/Aids and TB and the need to strengthen health system effectiveness.

In addition to addressing healthcare financing, the NHI also aims to re-engineer primary healthcare by focusing on prevention and strengthening district health systems. Community health workers and civil society have an important role to play in achieving these ambitious goals.

The Black Sash, in partnership with the Health Economics Unit at the University of Cape Town and the Health-e news service, held consultative workshops in all provinces to give those who use public healthcare facilities an opportunity to contribute to the health reform proposals.

Participants were sent by community-based organisations (such as paralegal advice offices), health-affiliated organisations, non-governmental organisations, faith-based organisations, and traditional healer organisations. They were chosen as community representatives and

representatives of different districts in each province.

Held between May 2010 and June 2011, the two- to three-day provincial consultations provided a platform for sharing information and eliciting participant views specifically on key issues that need to be addressed in South African health services, their preferred health system principles and values and broad options for the proposed health reform system, including preferred forms of financing.

The findings of the workshop were captured in the National Synthesis Report, which lays bare the challenges that the majority of South Africans face

in accessing healthcare. These were set out through a carefully constructed methodology called the ‘citizen jury’ approach. Common issues across the provinces emerged, with approximately 800 people from more than 500 different organisations consulted.

The key findingsParticipants in urban areas, especially in the Western Cape, were more knowledgeable and engaged in healthcare policy. Participants noted that public institutions offer the bare minimum of service, whereas those who can afford to attend private institutions are given both better treatment as well

Consultative workshops were held in all provinces. Photos by: Louis Reynolds.

Spark 9a better chance at recovery. Participants were aware of the different levels within the health system and suggested that effective communication between local, provincial and district health facilities is glaringly absent.

Recommendations include the rollout of the same level of service across all facilities, with an emphasis on those with the greatest need or that were functioning the poorest. In rural areas the call was for government to focus on primary healthcare. Participants felt far removed from, and not engaged by, provincial and local health authorities in many areas. Participants reported that government has not prioritised giving support to NGOs and community-based organisations that deliver community health services, thus undermining primary healthcare.

A gap in national health policy was also identified, because there seems to be no provision or implementation of national guidelines for the primary healthcare provided by clinics and community services. For example, in the Free State and in parts of KwaZulu-Natal,

participants called for the confidentiality of HIV positive people as a top priority.

Participants argued that health facilities do not cater for the elderly and suggested that nurses undergo geriatric training. Participants in Limpopo and Gauteng noted the impact of migration on health services. In Limpopo, migration to mining areas has placed an increased burden on health services. In Gauteng huge pressure is placed on health services by the constant influx of people to the province in search of work.

In other provinces, the relationship between environmental factors and poor health was highlighted and a lack of access to drinking water is leading to health problems. The presence of mining and malaria also create health complications (especially in Limpopo), while poor sanitation and exposure to rubbish dumps located near communities was reported to contribute to the high infant mortality rates in these areas.

Sustaining public participationKalie Senyane of the Southern African Catholic Bishops

Conference attended the NHI consultations in the Free State. He also worked as a fieldworker for the Community Monitoring and Advocacy Project monitoring primary healthcare services and basic services.

‘I can now see how important it is to ensure public participation,’ Senyane says. ‘Health system reform and the NHI comes with important development outcomes for poor people and it will help them a lot. It is a necessary intervention. As a result of NHI consultations we helped strengthen local awareness about these reforms.

‘Previously people were not aware of this. We helped to push that clinics have health information brochures in their local language. So now information is in English and seSotho, a critical need in places in Free State.’

Senyane adds that they also learnt about the social determinants of health, such as potable water, acceptable standards of sanitation, and access to nutritious food.

As a result of these public participation methods, and rights education initiatives, the

Justice and Peace commission of the Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference visited households in the Welkom and Virginia areas and helped people develop a proper understanding on these issues. As a result, people are more free to speak out against poor services, and expect that these challenges must be addressed.

Ward-based health careToday there are inspiring stories about the interventions by national government, and the gains made when provincial health and district health departments work hand in hand. It is envisaged that primary healthcare re-engineering will serve communities directly in each ward. However, this is a huge and expensive task requiring extensive training of staff.

To achieve this ward-based primary healthcare, outreach teams are being established and led by a professional nurse with six or more community health workers. At the end of 2012, more than 300 teams were established.

Many of these community health workers (CHWs) are

Members of the public were given the opportunity to contribute to health reform proposals.

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deployed from non-profit organisations and were previously home-based carers and counsellors. After training their roles have shifted, and they now do critical work in their communities supporting mothers-to-be, holding post-natal care visit clinics, assisting with infant feeding, screening for hypertension and diabetes and encouraging male medical circumcision.

As one health worker in the North West reflected, ‘we are inspired by our work, and can see that we are making a difference. However, it is important that other government departments work with us. We also need to be assured that stipends and remuneration happens regularly and is a reasonable amount’.

It remains important for government to be aware of these struggles and that these concerns are reflected accurately and independently.

Ward committees, clinic committees, and other civil society formations have an important role to play in achieving this.

Facilitator, Elly Marshall, capturing inputs from the Overberg delegation.

Elroy Paulus presenting at a workshop in the Eastern Cape.

Working togetherThe project is a partnership between:• Black Sash Trust• Health Economics Unit,

University of Cape Town• Health-e news service• Community health workers• A range of community-based

health organisations, faith-based organisations and traditional healer organisations

For more informationElroy PaulusNational Advocacy Manager forBlack Sash TrustPhone: 021 686 6952Email: elroy@blacksash.org.za Websites:• http://www.health-e.org.za/• http://heu-uct.org.za/• http://heu-uct.org.za/research/

publications/information-sheets/

PUBlic ParticiPation

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In 2004, 70 commercial dairy farmers in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal

formed Amadlelo Agri to help train beneficiaries of the land reform programme and local communities in farming and management. The aim was to use redistributed and under-utilised farmland to address the shortage of milk and the issue of increasing imports in the dairy industry. By enabling people to run their own farms, and training managers, agriculture is given a boost and many jobs can be created.

Amadlelo Agri is an empowerment company that brings together Vuwa Investments, local farmers, workers and the community. There are seven main projects under the Amadlelo umbrella, the Fort Hare Dairy Trust, Middledrift Dairy, the Keiskamma Irrigation Scheme, Ncera Macadamia Project, Shiloh Irrigation Scheme, Ncora Irrigation

Scheme and Makhoba Trust.The project is working with

the University of Fort Hare, which provides training facilities for students as well as aspiring farm managers and owners. The university contributed land for the programme at its Alice campus, the Eastern Cape Department of Agriculture funded R2 million, with the Land and Agriculture Bank of South Africa and Amadlelo financing the balance of the R21 million spent on developing the project.

The Fort Hare Dairy Trust operates as a commercial farm with 800 cows. Started in 2007, it has a teaching centre to train students in farm management. Once it reaches full capacity, Middledrift Dairy will be a 600-cow dairy farm. The Keiskamma Irrigation Scheme has resuscitated 660 hectares of farmland, which will boost the number of cows from the current 1 100 to 2 000. Shiloh Irrigation Scheme

has 800 cows, while the Ncora irrigation Scheme in the former Transkei is milking 1 200 cows. Makhoba aims to have 600 cows in production by August.

In another success, the first student graduates from the Fort Hare Dairy have been employed on other projects as junior and senior managers.

Creating farming jobsAccording to project manager Jeff Every, five of the projects are self-sustaining, and a large amount of skills sharing and capacity building is taking place. Through the Keiskamma Irrigation Scheme more people will be employed and a further 36 farmers will benefit once the project is at full capacity. The Ncera Macadamia Project stands to employ 300 people.

An important benefit is that the projects are boosting local production, so that less dairy produce will have to be imported. This in turn will increase job creation and

encourage entrepreneurship. ‘We have an intensive

community facilitation as well as a solid support system for graduate managers. There is also valuable interaction between new entrants into farming with successful commercial farmers,’ he says.

A project involving commercial dairy farmers, a university and government is working to provide skills and capacity in the dairy industry.

Training black farmers for success

Working togetherThe project is a partnership between:• The Eastern Cape

Department of Agriculture• University of Fort Hare• Department of Rural

Development and Land Reform

• Communities• Amadlelo Agri• Land and Agricultural Bank of

South Africa • Vuwa Investments

For more informationJeff Every Project Manager, Amadlelo AgriPhone: 082 652 5105Email: jeff@amadlelo.co.zaWebsite: www.amadlelo.co.za

LIVELIHOODS

By training locals to run their own dairy farms, Amadlelo is creating jobs, boosting local agriculture and addressing milk shortages.

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getting involved

Started in 1996 by a reformed drug addict, Paul Talliard, and the

supervisor of a local soup kitchen, Glenda Hendricks, Hands of Honour is a non-profit organisation that offers support to drug addicts and gang members who want to change their lives.

Talliard, who came to the soup kitchen in Retreat after years of drug and alcohol abuse, was touched by the kindness shown by the staff and decided to change his life. Staff members gave him small jobs to do in their homes and gardens. Once sober and a responsible member of society, Hendricks asked him to start the Hands of Honour support group.

The idea was prompted by an alarming increase in the number of men visiting soup kitchens in Cape Town. ‘The situation had become intolerable, with up to three generations of one family found in soup kitchens. We started the support group with the aim to break the cycle of drugs, crime and sporadic employment associated with young and adult males in Cape Town,’ says Talliard.

Initially, eight young men attended the weekly support group meetings, but this has grown to about 50 men at each meeting. The organisation’s projects have helped many destitute people develop skills and find employment through two projects involving ‘up-

cycling’ waste and obsolete material and improving rundown public spaces.

More importantly, it has shown them how they can give back to their communities.

A former leader of the prison gang known as the 26s, Leyton Fillies was homeless for over three years, living in his car, before he approached Hands of Honour. ‘I used all kinds of drugs and I was in and out of jail while part of the 26 gang. Then Hands of Honour helped me through my drug problem. Before, I took from the community to feed my drug habit. But the ‘regeneration of city and soul’ programme gave me the chance to give back to the community. It has helped

me gain self-respect. Now I am a Sunday school teacher and a supervisor at a company,’ says Fillies.

He also pays the annual school fees of some of the poor children in the community. Other working members of Hands of Honour contribute financially toward the soup kitchen in the community.

Talliard says that the projects have helped integrate its members into the community as they are now employed, have gained skills and confidence, and are breaking their reliance on social services and illegal activities. ‘In many cases, these workers had a reputation of being poisonous elements of their communities. As the rest

A community-based organisation in Cape Town, with the support of the City of Cape Town, is making a difference in Retreat, an area facing major challenges. Former gang members and drug addicts are rehabilitated and taught skills that allow them to find employment, and encourage them to give back to their community.

Giving a helping handReformed drug addicts and gang members are receiving an income for work on improving public spaces and creating a safer neighbourhood.

COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT

Spark 13of the community sees them upgrading their community spaces, their attitudes begin to change as well.’

The project has gained much recognition and has been nominated for various awards, winning the 2013 Unlimited South Africa award.

How it worksAs the director, Talliard interviews people who are interested in participating. ‘From the interview, I can gauge the person’s commitment to making the transition from a position of homelessness, drug addiction and/or gang membership to full and responsible citizenship.’

People are then invited to weekly meetings and participate in 12 life-skill lessons over the span of a year. Every third week of the month members are encouraged to invite their families to join them for refreshments.

‘The main driving force, or core of the lessons, is the universal law of reciprocation, or in layman’s terms, what you sow, you shall reap,’ says Talliard.

Members are encouraged to do something positive after each meeting, whether it is applying for an ID document, applying for a job or helping an elderly community member. They are given recognition for good deeds and are asked to join the volunteer group at the Retreat feeding station. According to Talliard, this helps to build their self-esteem and they receive food parcels as an incentive for coming early and cleaning up afterwards. Members are also given cleaning jobs at other members’ homes or members of the community that support the project.

Members who stay sober for prolonged periods of time are invited to be part of the organisation’s ‘up-cycling’ programme and the ‘regeneration of city and soul’ initiative. These are creative solutions to the problems, raising their standard of living and improving their urban environment.

‘The programme seeks to

Through the help of participants, derelict parts of Retreat are being transformed into safer public spaces.

Participants attend weekly meetings and 12 life-skill lessons over a year.

Working TogetherThe project is a partnership between:• Hands of Honour• Hands of Honour beneficiaries• The Retreat community • Local schools, churches and

businesses• The City of Cape Town

For more informationPaul TalliardDirector: Hands of HonourPhone: 021 703 0360Email: handsofhonour@gmail.comWebsite: www.handsofhonour.co.za

address three problems – prolonged unemployment, rejuvenating run-down spaces and managing or ‘up-cycling’ obsolete stock or recyclable waste. We employ the unemployable – those that have experienced homelessness, crime and substance abuse,’ he says.

Proceeds from the up-cycling venture provide salaries for workers with no other work options, and some of the profits are also invested in the ‘regeneration of city and soul’ project, where derelict community spaces that are havens for anti-social behaviour are transformed into safe and attractive places that the community can enjoy. The organisation trains its members to carry out the improvements.

Senior members act as skills trainers and work hand-in-hand with younger members on the regeneration projects. Vulnerable youngsters learn general construction and landscaping skills from those who have graduated from the Hands of Honour rehabilitation programme and have found employment or have started their own income-generating ventures.

Since the programme started, 18 people have received income from the up-cycling project. Eight run-down public spaces have been rehabilitated. This includes transforming derelict open plots into food gardens, upgrading schools and fixing the houses of poor people. Members have been able to use their new skills to get jobs as machinists, cutters and in the construction and landscaping sectors.

The City of Cape Town supports the programme. In one case, a public space owned by the municipality and identified by the Engeni Christian Church in Retreat was handed over to Hands of Honour and the church. Formerly used as a drug hangout, it has been turned into a community factory making school clothes. The organisation hopes to work more closely with the City to find premises for an up-cycling centre.

Councillor Montgomery Oliver, who has worked with Hands of Honour, says the work done has been ‘outstanding’. Beneficiaries that have worked on the projects – painting, gardening and renovating – have changed drastically. ‘As they showcase their skills, more and more people are hiring them and in this way they are integrating once again into society,’ he says. He is excited to see public land being put to good use and says the municipality hopes to see more of these initiatives all over Cape Town.

Spark14

In February 2012 a non-profit organisation called the Eastern Cape

Communication Forum (ECCF) started Municipal Matters, a one-year training and campaigning project that prepares and coaches journalists and reporters from small, local independent newspapers and community radio stations to improve their municipal reporting.

The project also introduces different community engagement tools to assist journalists to bring the concept

of community engagement into their newsrooms. The aim was to increase citizen participation in local government matters.

The ECCF, in partnership with the Walter Sisulu University, is implementing the Municipal Matters programme with support from the Open Society Foundation of South Africa (OSF-SA) and the German International Cooperation (GIZ).

The motivation for the project came when ECCF noted the increase in service delivery protests, not only in the Eastern Cape but also all

over the country.‘There seems to be a lack

of communication between local government and the communities. This is one of the underlying reasons for service delivery protests. We realised that journalists communicate with people at ground level, and that community media could play an important role in educating people, teaching them about local government procedures, and acting as some kind of communication broker between local government and citizens,’ says

ECCF coordinator Bongi Bozo. The organisation, which

focuses on strengthening small media through its capacity-building interventions in the Eastern Cape, worked with five municipalities, Nelson Mandela Bay and Buffalo City metros, and Intsika Yethu, King Sabatha Dalindyebo and Mnquma local municipalities.

How it worksThe project has two phases. The first phase focuses on training, while the second focuses on community

Bridging the communication divideAn organisation in the Eastern Cape is showing local media how they can play a meaningful role in improving communication between local government and their communities. With support from community media in five municipalities in the province, communities are now more aware of the role they play in local government’s decision-making processes.

Citizens now have a better understanding of local government and how it affects them.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

Spark 15engagement. The five-day training process benefited journalists in all five municipalities. Journalists were educated on local government processes and practices such as the Integrated Development Plan, how to analyse an annual report or general audit reports, as well as how to bring the concept of community engagement into the newsroom. This was important because for the journalists to transfer information to communities and to look critically into their municipalities they need to know about municipal functions and processes, says Bozo.

‘The idea was to look into the lack of communication between local government and its citizens. We live in a democratic state – this means the community has a right to participate in the decisions made by local government. But due to lack of information communities are not informed, and they don’t even know how they can get involved in decisions and the municipal system in general.’

She goes on to say that community media is close to the people because they live in the communities and understand the challenges. ‘As a result, they can be more effective in educating communities about issues and helping them participate in the local government process.’

Training for the journalists is funded. The ECCF looks at media organisations that are relevant to their communities and invites them to take part in the project. The training takes place at the media hub at the Walter Sisulu University. This gives the project the advantage of being able to use lecture rooms and broadcasting equipment.

The ECCF also helps place final-year journalism students at small community media, with the help of Seta funding. The involvement of these students ensures the sustainability of the project.

‘We communicate with the journalists and monitor the community newspapers after

Walter Sisulu University students that have benefited from the training hold weekly shows that are broadcast on Wild Coast FM.

The programme has been well received by journalists and communities.

The project includes training followed by a focus on community engagement.

Spark16the training is complete. We’ve noticed that their reporting has changed, and they now report more critically on local government business and do not wait for government events to pick up on stories. We have been following up on what they have been doing,’ says Bozo.

Although not all communication managers in the five municipalities supported the project, officials from Buffalo City, Intsika Yethu Municipality and King Sabata Dalindyebo municipalities have welcomed the project. They supported the training and community engagement initiatives.

‘They understand communications media and the role we play. They have seen it as a chance to reach people at ground level,’ says Bozo.

Among the positive spin-offs are that the programme has been well received by journalists and communities. There is more dialogue between local media, municipalities and communities, with issues such as xenophobia, sanitation, access to public health services and waste management being discussed. During community engagements, community members are better able to engage with municipal officials and other stakeholders and share their grievances. Citizens are able to make recommendations and come up with effective solutions. For instance, in a dialogue on xenophobia organised by Skawara News in Intsika Yethu Municipality, a task team of community members was elected to work closely with the community police forum.

In the Nelson Mandela Bay metro, dialogues initiated by Zithethele, a community newspaper in Port Elizabeth with the ECCF, were held where community members aired their grievances about dirty roads, sewage spilling and children playing in an unsanitary environment. Local government officials who attended the event

said this was an eye-opener, noting that the community was desperate for better living conditions.

Similarly, a community newspaper in Buffalo City, EC Today, together with the ECCF, organised a dialogue where the community was able to voice their grievances regarding access to healthcare services.

Siphe Macanda, one of the newspaper’s contributors and a beneficiary of the programme, says that the training increased his interest in political reporting. He says the newspaper benefited by having more articles about municipalities and even received recognition from municipal roleplayers.

‘Communities have received a lot of information about municipal dealings. All in all, the project enhanced community media. I have developed a better relationship with government and municipal stakeholders, and even developed friendships with other municipal officials.’

Following xenophobic attacks on foreign nationals in Intsika Yethu municipality, Skawara Newspaper and the ECCF organised a public dialogue where residents of Cofimvaba were able to discuss the matter. Local community leaders, community members, foreign nationals, government officials and the head of communications at the municipality attended the event.

Buffalo City communications manager Keith Ngesi, who worked closely with the ECCF, said the metro welcomed the partnership and supported it by sponsoring marketing material. ‘It improved the communication and interaction between the council and the communities it serves. It helped the municipality to realise its vision of being responsive and having a people-centred city. It has enhanced public participation and played an informative role in the community.’

Bozo says the ECCF’s goal is to have more active

citizenship and people who are knowledgeable about local government so they can contribute to the decisions taken at municipal level. The organisation hopes to expand the project to other areas in the province in the future.

Working togetherThe project is a partnership between:• The Eastern Cape

Communication Forum• Walter Sisulu University• Open Society Foundation for

South Africa • GIZ• Five Eastern Cape

municipalities• Skawara News, EC Today,

Zithethele Community Newspaper, Ikamva LaseGcuwa, Ikhwezi laseMthatha, Wild Coast FM

• Community members

For more informationBongi BozoECCF CoordinatorPhone: 043 703 8556Email: eccf@wsu.ac.zaWebsite: www.eccf.org.za

The project has resulted in increased exposure of local government issues in the media.