VISION
THE AWARDS CYCLE
SILVER
25 projects were awarded Silver in 2005.
Ethekwini Water and Sanitation: Customer Services Project – Providing Debt Relief for the Poor
eThekwini Water and Sanitation: Customer Services Project-Providing Debt Relief to the Poor- is administered by the eThekwini Municipality, and began in July of 2004 to address the R20 million in outstanding water payments in the 20 worst wards within that municipality. Funding and partnerships were provided by the eThekwini Municipality, Department of Water Affairs, Water Research Council, and the Development Bank of South Africa.
Multi-Point Plan to Address Air Quality Concerns in the South Durban Basin
The South Durban Basin Multi-Point Plan (SDB-MPP) was established in 2000 in order to mitigate high levels of air pollution around the South Durban Basin. The goals of the project included reducing pollutants such as sulphur dioxide and phasing out of heavy fuels in industrial production to increase quality of life for local residents. Additionally, building capacity at the municipal level to address these issues was of vital concern. Financial and administrative partnerships come from the eThekwini Municipality, the National Department of Environment and Tourism, National Department of Health, the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Department of Economic Affairs and Development, DANIDA, and the Norwegian Institute for Air Research.
Emseni Community Projects
The Emseni Community project began in 1999 as a feeding scheme designed to service the communities of KwaMashu, Inanda and Ntuzuma in the eThekwini Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal. After the initial success of this core project, Emseni broaded their scope to include creating food gardens at schools, HIV/Aids support programmes, Home-Based Care (HBC), and training and education structures for orphans. Financial assistance and partnerships are provided by the eThekwini Municipality and KwaMashu Christian Church.
Primedia Skills Development
The Primedia Skills Development project was established in June 2001 as a direct effort to stymie the continued unemployment of youth in the area of Alexandra, Johannesburg, through education in construction. Courses in a multitude of construction related areas are provided along with first aid and fundamentals in business operating skills. The project is housed in the Alexandra Motswedi Centre, and has educational partnerships with the Central Johannesburg College and the Alexandra Campus.
Slangpark Housing Project
In 2004, all the ingredients were in place for a pilot project to begin providing housing for people living in informal settlements in Grabouw, in the Theewaterskloof municipality, in the Western Cape. In total, 843 homes were built using trained local labour, local artisans, and with the Grabouw Municipality acting as overall developer. Funding was provided by the Provincial Department of Housing, with financial management taken on by the municipality through their project manager.
Perinatal Mental Health Project
Under the banner, 'Caring for Mothers, Caring for the Future', the Perinatal Mental Health Project (PMHP) was established in 2002 as a pilot project to address mothers with post-natal depression. The project operates out of the Maternity Hospital in Mowbray, Cape Town, and was designed to care for mothers from informal settlements.
The Film and TV Unit at Monash South Africa – including the Hothouse Incubator
In March 2003 the Film and TV Unit at Monash South Africa initiated a project catering to disadvantaged students, 95% black students, by providing sponsored courses that fast-track their advancement into the film and TV industry. Funding and partnerships are provided by: National Department of Arts and Culture, MAPPP Seta, National Film and Video Foundation, Create SA, the City of Johannesburg and Monash South Africa.
Electrification of Ha-Muraga Village
This project was initiated by the Ha-Muraga village with help from the Thulamela Municipality to provide electricity to 220 households in Ha-Muraga village in the Limpopo Province. The project began in August 2004 with funding from the Ha-Muraga village, totaling R200 000, and the municipality provided an additional R700 000. Distribution and administration of electricity is currently carried out by Eskom. Lufuno Mphaphuli and Associates provided the project management and engineering expertise during completion.
Tjhebelo Pele
In 2002, MaAfrika Tikkun created Tjhebelo Pele to provide a variety of support structures in the Orange Farm area, near Johannesburg, using a collective approach with local NGOs. Tjhebelo Pele is a co-operative; working as an autonomous association of NGOs voluntarily, to meet their common economic, social, and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly-owned and democratically-controlled enterprise.
Ngezandla Zethu (With Our Hands) – Talking Beads
Ngezandla Zethu- Talking Beads, a Non-Profit Organisation (NPO)- was established in 1997 to eradicate poverty in rural and peri-urban areas around Pretoria using the sales of beaded crafts. Since its inception, Ngezandla Zethu has recieved support from government agencies including the Departments of Education (DoE), Arts and Culture (DAC), Trade and Industry (DTI), Foreign Affairs (DFA), Housing (DoH), Communication (DoC), Tourism Department, and the Tshwane local Government. Along with support coming from the government sector, NGOs have jumped on board; including, Project Literacy, Cyberia Consulting, Landsend Catholic Church in Umtata, and Positive Women's Network.
Men on the Side of the Road
Men on the Side of the Road (MSR), launched in 1999, was initiated by Charles Maisel with assistance coming from corporate sponsors and the Provincial Social Services Departments of the Western Cape, Gauteng, Northern Cape, Polokwance, Mpumulanga; the Municipalities of Potchefstroom, Bloemfontein, Upington; and the Provincial Department of Labour in the Western Cape. Men on the Side of the Road was created to facilitate the 50 000 low-skilled, unemployed labourers in South Africa into the economy through skills and infrastructure development while creating jobs.
Ukunakekela “Working hand in hand to improve services to rape survivors”
In May of 2003, in conjunction with a National Government programme providing post-prophylaxis (PEP), Lifeline/Rape Crisis in Pietermaritzburg created the first project, called Ukunakekla, to offer comprehensive medico-legal counselling and PEP services to victims of sexual abuse. The Ukunakekela project, operating out of the Northdale Crisis Centre in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, became a safe place for survivors of rape to receive counselling, medical care, and become involved in support groups tackling issues such as positive living with HIV/AIDS.
Soweto Retired Professional Society-Hospice and Food Gardens
The Soweto Retired Professional Society (SRPS) is a Non-Profit Organisation, comprised of 52 retired nurses, teachers, social workers and religious leaders, that was established in 1986 as a resource group to provide assistance to hospitals. In 2004, SRPS opened a hospice, caring for HIV positive people. The initial start up monies, of R262 000, were raised through a mentorship programme to Home-Based Caregivers commissioned by the Gauteng Department of Health (DoH). In addition, 25 beds were donated by Clinics Group of Private Hospitals. Funding and materials have been provided by the DoH, Julie Hendersen, Anglo-American, and Clinics Group of Private Hospitals while further fundraising activities are administered by the SRPS.
Enviro-Permaculture Project
The Enviro-Permaculture Project, located at the Aphane Secondary School in the Magatle village at Lebowakgomo in Limpopo, was established in 2001. The aim of the project was to address the extreme level of poverty and unemployment in the area, resulting in poor nutrition for learners and members of the community at large. Materials and funding for the project were provided by government agencies and Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) such as: Department of Agriculture (DoA); Economic Development, Environment and Tourism; Health and Welfare; Water Affairs and Forestry; the Premier's Office; Food and Trees For Africa (FTFA); the Rotary clubs of Polokwane, Pietersburg 100, Bedfordview; Sasol; Panar; Progress Milling; South African Empowerment Foundation (SAWEF); The DMG Trust; Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA); Eco-Schools; and Pick 'n Pay School Club.
Morning Star Children’s Centre
Morning Star Children’s Centre, established in 2000 with money from the Free State Provincial Department of Health, is a Day Care facility tailored specifically towards HIV/AIDS infected children. The centre is located in the city of Welkom in the Lejweleputswa Municipality. Morning Star pursues a holistic approach to the problem of HIV/AIDS infection amongst children in the Free State by providing a multitude of services comprised of food programmes, education on government grants for needy families, and job creation for caregivers. Additional funding and materials are sourced from a variety of partners including: the Free State Departments of Health, and Social Development at the provincial and municipal levels, the Matjhabeng Aids Consortium, the Lejweleputswa municipality, AngloGold Chairman's Fund, ABSA Foundation, British High Commission, Elton John AIDS Foundation, Food and Trees For Africa, Mandela Children's Fund, National Lottery, South Africa Breweries, Sasol, and Vodacom.
Zibambele Road Maintenance Programme
Zibambele - “doing it for ourselves” - Road Maintenance Programme is a labour intensive strategy for routine road maintenance developed to create long-term employment for members of women-headed households. The programme, started in 1999 as an initiative of the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport, currently employs over 23 000 workers, and is slated to expand that number to 40 000 by 2009. The Provincial Department of Transport in KwaZulu-Natal not only provides employment for the poorest of the poor, but has set up a savings system in which funds are pooled in order to purchase enterprises and encourage an entrepreneurial spirit, adding value to the long term goals of the project.
Cape Craft and Design Institute
The CCDI was established in 2001 by the provincial government of the Western Cape and the Cape Technikon, now the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, to provide support services to the craft sector of the Western Cape.
Community-Based Seed Production Project
In order to mitigate the negative impact on seed and food quality in rural areas in the Limpopo region from the continued over use of the same seeds in yearly planting cycles, the Limpopo Department of Agriculture created the Community-Based Seed Production Project CBSPP) in 2000. The goals of the project include the cultivation of seeds determined by local farmers to meet the needs of the local community through consumption as food, and as producing the highest quality product in seed markets. The Community-Based Seed Production Project relies on a multitude of partners that provide assistance through hard goods and technical assistance. These partners are: the International Centre for Wheat and Maize Improvement (CIMMYT), Agricultural Research Council Grain Crop Institute (ARC-GCI), Southern African Development Community/German Technical Cooperation/Small Scale Seed Production (SADC/GTZ/SSSP), South African National Seed Organisation (SANSOR), National Department of Agriculture (NDA), Madzivhandila College of Agriculture, and the German Technical Co-operation (GTZ-BASED).
The Ebenhaeser Dam and Related Works Project
In 2001, the Provincial Department of Agriculture initiated the Ebenhaeser Dam Project in order to provide members of the Ebenhaeser community, such as Papendorp, Strandfontein and Doornbaai, with the proper volume of water acquired from water rights purchased in the past. As investigations into the reasons why water was not a readily available resource for this community, and several others in the region, progressed, it became apparent that the Ebenhaeser canal was in dire need of rehabilitation. Along the 5km stretch of the existing canal from which Ebenhaeser was designated to draw water, a 1.5mm thick coating of high density polyethylene was installed to reduce loses caused by leaching. In addition, a balancing dam was created to minimalise the impact seasonal changes in water height had on farmers in the community, and 4 water pumps that regulate water flow were installed. The provision of drinking water was addressed by building a pump with a rising main in the new balancing dam.
KZN Traditional Music Project
After a 2 month study, in 2003, of the musical environment in the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Province, conclusions were drawn concerning the viability to produce, maintain, and promote local musicians. Consequently, the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Traditional Music Project was established in June of 2003, in conjunction with the Business Enterprise Entrepreneurs Support Trust (BEES) and the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development and Tourism, to support local musical artists. Expertise and financial support was provided by: the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development and Finance, CreateSA, the Durban Institute of Technology, the National Department of Labour, the Lotto Trust Fund, the South African-Norwegian Education and Music Programme, the Swedish-South African Cultural Initiative, the MAPP-SETA music industry learnerships, Maltre Productions, The Rainbow Restaurant, and the Ford Foundation.
Kgalagadi Household Sanitation Programme
In 2003, the National and Provincial Department of Water Affairs and Forestry along with the Kgalagadi Municipality, located in the Northern Cape, Mvula Trust, Africon Engineering International, local chiefs and Ward Councillors initiated the Kgalagadi Household Sanitation Programme. The programme creates awareness of sanitation issues related to health, hygiene, and behaviour that causes the spread of disease through water contamination. The programme serves 168 villages, a total of 27 680 households, experiencing sanitation services below South Africa's Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) levels in the Kgalagadi District Municipality.
Uthango Enterprise Project
The Uthango Enterprise Project, founded in 2003, is located within the community of Masiphumelele, an informal settlement on the outskirts of Noordhoek Valley, Cape Town. The project is designed to produce Local Economic Development (LED) for micro-businesses through educating local entrepreneurs, and providing access to local and international markets. The Foundation for Economic and Business Development (FEBDEV) in the Western Cape is the implementing agency, with funding and oversight provided by the Uthango Enterprise Board and the National FEBDEV agency. The Claremont International Rotary Club was the source of the initial funds, along with the City of Cape Town, and co-founded the project in partnership with the Uthango Enterprise.
Black Sash: Advocacy & Training
The Black Sash Advocacy Training and Assistance Project, based out of their Knynsa offices, in the Western Cape, began in 2002 to address consumer debt. The Knysna office embarked upon a strategy to engage with the government and the private sector around issues of debt, credit and other financial consumer issues negatively affecting traditionally low-income families. 58% of the funding for the project is provided by foreign donors, and the remaining 42% comes from the National Lotteries Fund.
Happy Hours Day Care
The Happy Hours Day Care Centre project was established in 1983, in Durban, after local community members and parents of mentally handicapped children were unable to place their children in mainstream schools. From 1983 to 1994 an additional 8 centres were established around the KwaZulu-Natal Province. Funding is sourced from the Provincial Department of Health (DoH), private donors, the National Lotteries Board, and various other avenues of fund raising.
iKamva Labantu
It is not often that one finds an organisation with the scope of influence to match that of iKamva Labantu. It seems to have an endless supply of innovative ways to help people, whether they be old, young, sick or healthy. Its presence in Cape Town has grown from the sole endeavours of founder Helen Lieberman to a vast network of social services. Helen became involved in the townships more than 30 years ago, and in 1992 formally launched iKamva Labantu with the vision to 'strengthen and support community-based organisations in their growth and development by organising them into forum, leading them to ultimately operate with interdependence among themselves'.
South Africa’s Top Social Innovators Vie for a Coveted Impumelelo 2010 Sustainability Award!
