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projects
Khayelitsha Community and Backyard Gardens — Elsie Mahobe
Nyanga Community and Backyard Gardens — Vicky Yokwana
Guguletu Community and Backyard Gardens — Sylvia Mkangisa
Samora Machel Backyard Gardens — Sylvia Mkangisa
Sewing — Nombulelo Tulumane
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aims
The Community Development
Programme continues to alleviate poverty and
starvation in previously disadvantaged communities.
It also imparts skills to members of the community to alleviate conflict and tension.
context
Many clients live in overcrowded
informal housing, with up to 50% unemployment. In their search for survival, some people turn
to violent crime. Certain cultural habits such as polygamy together with `macho' male
attitudes ensure that women and children remain
the most high risk group in township life. Some children are abused by their fathers,
and because mothers are economically dependent on the men, will not expose them.
HIV/AIDS is increasing, but because of traditional
taboos on speaking about sexuality, people are reluctant to attend workshops. Many
people suffer from other diseases such as
tuberculosis and pneumonia, but cannot afford treatment.
Food is expensive here, and children want
to eat 'fast' foods with lots of sugar and coca cola. Scarce money is spent on
products which do not build healthy bodies.
Diabetes is a serious problem amongst older
people. Traditional farming skills have been lost,
and with more people streaming to the city, many families face likely food shortages in the future.
These are the reasons why we choose to work here.
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activities
sewing
We offer basic and advanced
sewing courses, as well as teaching people to use the embroidery machine to make
the traditional dress worn in the community. In addition, we run workshops on life
skills, business skills and conflict handling.
When people completed the basic
sewing course, they were given a start-up pack of material to establish their small businesses
in groups. They managed to make profits, and returned to do the advanced course. gardens
So far we have helped new
gardeners to set up a total of about 240 backyard gardens in Khayelitsha, Nyanga, Guguletu, and Samora
Machel. We teach people methods of
preserving food — such as sun-drying
tomatoes, or making chutney, onion relish, jam and fruit leathers. We also
provide compost, seed and seedlings to new gardeners. New people are
being trained, while we help in maintaining community gardens and foster
a harmonious working environment for all involved in our projects.
We had a very good harvest this year. |
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