The employment rate in the area is a mere 10% and while men at least have the option of travelling to the mines to work, there are very few job options for women. There is little in the way of an enterprise culture to inspire people. Access to capital and training are further barriers.
The Madwaleni microfinance initiative is at an embryonic stage but there are plans to expand in the near future. Currently small interest free unsecured loans are made to individuals to set up small businesses. To date it is the volunteers on the HIV programme who have benefitted and the businesses include raising chickens, taking and selling photographs and sewing clothes and linen. To date around R10,000 has been donated to the project, R20,000 worth of loans have been made of which R10,000 has been repayed. There are currently 8 small businesses running due to this project funding.
The first loan/grant to a small group has now been granted. Three paraplegic men have set up a carpentry business. Their first order has been for 'memory boxes' (OVC project). They want to make low cost coffins which is likely to be a big money spinner.
The Madwaleni beekeeping project - four local community members are being funded through an introductary course in apiculture. This includes all the equipment and knowledge necessary to start their first hives.The first phase objective is to establish 5 Hives on the hospital property, honey and other bee products produced will be sold to the hospital for use in treatment. |