Projects in South Africa
Local Leadership
Working with Rotary Clubs in South Africa, The Townships Project focuses on Building Better Businesses in several ways.
We work with Rotary and other local organizations to develop programs, services and events for small business owners to find financing, marketing, mentoring, accounting, and other skills and networking opportunities. Where possible we provide government-accredited training so that existing businesses can ultimately qualify for government contracts, for instance, in Early Childhood Development and conflict resolution.
Examples of current projects include:
Building Better Businesses Symposium
The annual Building Better Businesses (BBB) Symposium is at the heart of our current work.
First held in 2018, our 2021 Symposium pivoted to a hybrid live/online format with great success. The purpose of the Building Better Businesses Symposium is to empower small business entrepreneurs in Townships across South Africa. Speakers and sessions are focused on building the skills necessary for entrepreneurs to grow their businesses as they continue to be the key contributors to socio-economic development in South Africa.
For more information on the Symposium, visit the Building Better Businesses website.
100 Mediators
2021 marked 100 years of Rotary in Africas. To celebrate, local clubs created an ambitious plan to train 100 mediators: The African Rotary Community Mediation (ARCoM) Project. Our charity provided foundational funding and promotes ongoing support by Rotary in Canada.
The ARCoM project trains youth and women from marginalized communities in meditation. Training is provided by the Rotary Vocational Training Team (VTT) in partnership with the Africa Centre for Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD) and Unisa’s Institute for Dispute Resolution in Africa (IDRA).
Graduates are accredited by Mediators Beyond Borders International (MBBI). As professional mediators, graduates can expect pay for the work that many were doing informaly without pay.
Early Childhood Development (ECD) Training
Studies have long proven the value of Early Childhood Development (ECD) in every child’s life. ECD is also foundational to building healthy communities. Rotarian Annemarie Mostert recognized an opportunity in the transformational potential of ECD.
In 2019, led by CEO Mostert, Sesego Foundation developed and ran an accredited ECD training program in Alexandra Township. Graduates of this training are now entitled to ongoing government-funds per child. The result is sustainable day care businesses, benefitting the women owners, the children and their parents.
In 2020, The Townships Project provided funds to Sesego’s program in Soweto. We are now funding a similar program in Mathibestad, near Pretoria. These programs have trained 84 individuals who run 42 ECD centres in Township communities.
Government-Accredited Skills Training
Since 2014 the Chayil Foundation has served the communities of South Africa. Founder Robyn LeRoux established Fleur Youth Center to empower residents of township communities. The Center runs training programs for youth and women vulnerable to sex work, drug trafficking and life on the streets. The work of the Fleur Youth Center has helped in the creation of about 70 tiny new businesses.
Together with Sesego Foundation, we are helping to upgrade the Fleur Centre to an accredited training academy. Students are trained as bakers, caterers, seamstresses, fashion designers, shop-keepers and more. Government-accredited training will open up better employment options for students and potential funding for small businesses.
