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The scourge of unemployment in rural communities can be tackled by
identifying and empowering entrepreneurs, whose small, emerging enterprises
can be an effective means of job creation. We identify opportunities
and help start-ups, but in particular, we stimulate the potential
for income generation through a highly successful skills training
programme, and through access to technology.
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DevCentre - Bridging The Digital Divide
The DevCentre (Digital Eco-Village Centre) was established to
‘bridge the digital divide’ and enable local communities
to have easy access to technology. Computer courses, skills training,
access to the Internet and digital communications technology all
form part of the DevCentre with the aim being to use technology
to advance education, agriculture and health care.
The programme has been successfully implemented in the Mduku community
near CC Africa’s
Phinda Private Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal and services four communities.
The first basic computer training lessons were run during May and
June 2004 in conjunction with the University of Zululand, giving
rural students from the communities adjacent to Phinda the opportunity
to prepare for university, and to set them up for success in the
future.
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Skills Training – ‘Learn
To Earn’
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"The Training and Production Centre at our school is a great example of the public-private sector partnerships that are needed to build our nation. Phinda and the Africa Foundation have now done their bit, it is now up to us as parents, educators and students to put this centre to good use and uplift ourselves."
Mr Nzama, Principal, Mavuso High School, at the opening of the
Skills Centre
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Effective skills
training programmes are key to rural development and are a result
of active community involvement and ownership of the processes, along
with access to appropriate resources for training.
Africa Foundation sponsors a group of community members on an intensive
three-month training course in KwaZulu-Natal. The programme teaches
skills such as plumbing, carpentry, electrical knowledge, bricklaying,
tiling, plastering and emerging contractor training. Students are
selected through local authorities and comprise men and women of various
ages. They arrive unemployed and semi-skilled, but leave with basic
levels in all skills. Their combined abilities can build a complete
house from scratch! One successful group of students has formed the
Mduku Builders’ Association and are working on several projects
for Phinda Private Game Reserve as well as in the surrounding community.
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Agricultural Initiatives
Agricultural projects such as provision of water and assistance with
vegetable gardens have reduced malnutrition and encouraged entrepreneurial
farming. In many instances, the projects have not only provided community
members with food but have also resulted in extra income.
Examples are bee-keeping projects in Kenya and Tanzania, and the development
of vegetable gardens in communities close to CC Africa lodges.
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