Emseni Community Projects

The Emseni Community Project began as a non-partisan community development wing of the KwaMashu Christian Church, after it was identified that the communities around Durban, in the areas of KwaMashu, Inanda, and Ntuzuma were faced with an array of social problems and disease.  To counter such negative trends in the community the Emseni Community Project developed a feeding scheme, vegetable garden, an HIV/AIDS support programme, Care for Orphans Programme, the Bonginkosi Christian Academy and the Adopt-a School programme with funding provided by the KwaMashu Christian School and eThekwini Municipality.  Partnerships also exist with the KwaZulu-Natal Departments of Education, Health and Social Welfare in running the various programmes.

The Bonginkosi Christian Academy assists to 112 early learners; pre-school- aged children, and grade 1 and 2 learners.  The main objective of this project is to provide education to learners in the programme in order to facilitate skills development and knowledge and values that positively shape their attitudes towards school and life.  In 2005, 6 educators, including the principal were employed by the school, which is overseen by a school governing body.

In addition to the Bongikosi Christian Academy, the Adopt-a-School programme, established at the Mzuvele High School, strives to maintain quality educational environments for learners through funding from various public and private enterprises.  This programme has evolved into a training programme that educates learners and teachers on how to sustain a healthy living environment in conditions that present a multitude of challegnes.

The Feeding Scheme, and Gardening project offered by the Emseni project go hand-in-hand.  Through the Feeding Scheme 1 200 needy people are feed 1 meal per day per month; while the gardening project is a stand alone endeavor, it provides the vegetables used in the Feeding Scheme.  Both projects receive an abundance of volunteers as community buy-in has been successful.  The feeding scheme is funded entirely by the KwaMashu Christian Centre, and the gardening project receives support from the Parks and Recreation unit of the eThekwini Municipality in the way of tractors and training.

The HIV/AIDS component deals almost exclusively with the provision of support services for people affected and infected by HIV/AIDS.  There are 3 aspects to the programme which include Home Based Care (HBC), a support group for those who need emotional encouragement, and a Hospice.  The main activities of these components are visiting affected families to offer support, counseling, feeding, cleaning, and caring for bed-ridden and terminally ill individuals affected by HIV/AIDS.

Caring for Orphans provides an environment where children affected by HIV/AIDS, whether through the death of their parents or infected themselves, are given groceries and transportation fares every month to attend school. 

Innovation

The use of a community development project that integrates such a wide range of services with a faith-based organisation at its core, along with local authorities, is a innovative approach to endemic socio-economic issues.   Prior to this effort by the Emseni Community Project the community had no services of this integrated nature.

Effectiveness

The Feeding Scheme, run by counselors and volunteers, is run 3 days a week, with 1 200 meals provided every month. The vegetable garden provides food for the feeding scheme and for other gardeners who work. 138 people have been trained in basic gardening skills.  The HIV/AIDS programme provides home-based care, carried out by volunteers.  A support group counsels 40-45 HIV/AIDS patients and is run by retired medical practitioners; and a building is in the process of being completed to provide a fully functioning hospice. The orphan programme provides food and transport money for 60 predominantly HIV/AIDS affected orphans. Emseni also helps to collect clothing and food for other orphanages in the area. The Bonginkosi School provides 112 early learners with basic skills to prepare them for further education at larger primary schools.   Through Adopt-a-School, an exchange programme was established with Abbey-Grange Church of England High School in Leeds, England.

Poverty Impact

The range of this project tackles a number of social issues in the areas of  KwaMusha, Inanda, and Ntuzuma; and therefore, helps to improve the quality of life for many people in the participating communities.

Sustainability

The community project is under the guidance of a board of directors. It also receives help from three different provincial departments and the local municipality helping to ensure its sustainability.

Replication

If a similar network of staff and a reliable source of funding can be found will this project be able to be replicated in others areas of need.

Partnerships:

• eThekwini Municipality
• KwaMashu Christian Centre
• KZN Department of Education
• KZN Department of Health and Social Welfare
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