Monday, 15 December 2014

Daily update of Witteklip MPC Renovations

External walls are plastered
Today we busy with Plastering the south side veranda and installing Fischer boards. See more...c

Friday, 12 December 2014

Feedback & Strategic Planning 2014/2015

One of the final order of business for 2014 was to meet with the three community leaders, look back over 2014 and plan for 2015.

It was a really fruitful meeting, with lots of input, from both sides.

The main items raised by the community leaders were:
  • 2014 was an incredible year, where a lot was accomplished
  • Better teamwork and communication in 2015
  • More initiatives launched in 2015

All parties in the room agreed that 2015 needed to be a year of "Action", where more was done and the project teams worked harder and took more initiative, than in 2015.

The meeting ended on a good note, with everyone excited about 2015. 

Solar Entrepreneurs -Preparing the Future

Without wanting to lose the momentum generated during 2014, the project being run in conjunction with the Dutch Embassy was launched in December 2014.

The first phase of the project is to select and build the capacity of 15 Solar Entrepreneurs, who will then go out and sell household solar products, within their communities. 

After a group of community members from Witteklip, Fitches Corner and Shamrock had gathered at the Witteklip MPC, the first session of entrepreneurial training was conducted. 

Thereafter, the entire group was trained on the installation, operation and technical aspects of a solar theft-proof roof light and a solar desk lamp. 

By way of an entrepreneurial survey, 15 individuals (3 from each community) were selected as solar entrepreneurs. 

Each entrepreneur was given a start-up kit of products. Their duty is to sell these products over the next month, and then bring feedback with regards to their challenges, lessons learnt etc.

Watch this space, as the project unfolds. 

Numeracy Training -FSB

The Financial Service Board (FSB), visited the Witteklip Multi-Purpose Centre on the 10th December, to conduct training with all 3 communities.

This was a highly anticipated event, due to the nature of the topic covered and the need in the
communities. 

Budgeting was the major topic of the day, with all of the attendants being divided into four groups, in order to discuss and prepare their own budget. Most of the day was spent discussing this subject, with many rigorous debates and some really insightful ideas being proposed. 

The communities learnt a lot about clothing accounts, loan sharks, saving and how to stretch the little you have, in order to cover your basic needs. They were also challenged on the subject of take-aways, in comparison to buying ingredients from the shop.

Other topics covered, which were also really beneficial were:
  • Funeral policies and funeral cover
  • Life after December -how to spend your money over December and January
  • The importance of savings
  • Consultation with family members

Sunday, 30 November 2014

Knitting Classes

The knitting aficionados

 WOW! From Zero to Products!


There are individuals that just get on and do what they are passionate about, Ms. Jeanette Nolte is one such person. She has taken the Knitting Class on a journey from ZERO to producing PRODUCTS. We have also procured stock for the knitting aficionado produce more products over the festive season. We are looking forward to even greater achievements in 2015. See more...























Friday, 28 November 2014

A short update by the magician responsible for the knitting program

These are the items that the ladies have started to knit at home which will eventually be sold.  Some of the pieces have been ordered so things seem to be going the way as planned.  I am more than thrilled with the progress of these ladies, truly a bunch of ladies that have now discovered that they are capable of knitting.

I have since the final and last  class for this programme,  bought more wool for the Fitchet's Corner and Shamrock Village and handed Lindeka and Mrs Jacobs wool and knitting needles.  I was truly sorry that Witteklip ladies were not interested in the knitting programme.

The two ladies in the handing over of the certificate  picture, are now the two ladies who run the knitting class  in Fitchet's Corner and Shamrock.
Both are doing extremely well. Fitchet' Corner has two more ladies being taught  to  knit and Shamrock Village (Lindeka) has six ladies. Unfortunately they are limited as to the number of ladies that can come to their respective homes, but they are managing.

I have been keeping in contact with them via the cell phone but now that I can get around I will be visiting the two communities. See more...



 











Witteklip MPC Renovations

Progress Update

The renovations are going according to plan this far, I am happy with service rendered by Clinton’s alterations. I am busy preparing a progress report on a spreadsheet below is the quick internal progress report of the WMPC.


Kitchen
  • Tiling on the Floor and on the wall is completed
  • Ceiling Refurbished and Painted
  • Plugs and lights switches all installed 
  • Cupboards, double water sink and tap installed
  • Plumbing is completed

Safe Room
  • Safe with a frame is constructed
  • 3x Plugs installed 
  • Ceiling is painted

Passage
  • Old Vinyl tiles removed 
  • Ceiling refurbished 

Bathrooms 
  • All floors in the bathrooms tiled
  • The wall in the gents shower is completely tiled 
  • Ceiling in all bathrooms refurbished and painted


Community Compiled Business Plan

Let's start by crawling...
The onus has to reside with the communities

AFSD subscribes to the principle of "teaching a person to fish". Based on this philosophy we request that the communities compile their business plans. This is important as it starts to build responsibility and accountability from the outset. Read more...

Solar lights installation

Community leader leading by example


A number of Community members received solar theft proof roof lights to lighten up their homes. See more...

The Critical Success Factor: Monitoring & Evaluation

General overview of the Community Project
Teams Performance
Without M&E You're Flying Blind

In order to track the overall progress of the MWVS Community Development Programme AFSD has developed an M&E instrument to track is an every activity - as they say, if it moves, measure it. Read more...

Capacity Development and the all important Monitoring & Evaluation


Training communities to knit

M&E is a critical success factor and AFSD has ensured that we can track the progress of each of the participants. Read more...

Thursday, 27 November 2014

Human Settlement

Progress Report
Progress Report

This is the latest Status Report to Councillor Mafana, with regards to relocating the communities.The relocation of Shamrock/St Albans is an ongoing process. It is encouraging to see the latest status report. Read more...

Wednesday, 26 November 2014

Witteklip MPC Renovations.

Adding the storeroom
Daily Progress

Brick work coming together nicely. The kitchen is almost complete with tiles and cupboards in place. See more...

Monday, 17 November 2014

Witteklip MPC Renovations

The Renovation Team
Site Inspection

The renovations to the MPC are progressing well. The Renovation Team also include resources sourced from the communities. See more...

Tuesday, 21 October 2014

Shareholders visit MWVS Community Programme


Our Community Leader Mr Edmund Buni
and his project coordinator
Let the Community Speak

This was a wonderful opportunity for the Shareholders to have a direct dialogue with the beneficiaries and to see first-hand the impact that their investment is having in our communities. See more...



Knitting Program


See the concentration
Training communities to knit

Jeanette and her team from Blue Horizon Bay have been diligently training community members from the from our our communities of Shamrock, Fitches Corner and Witteklip. 

After several weeks the attendees have now knitted complete garments. The level of achievement and confidence is visible. See more...

Rural Solar Electrification

The young enquiring minds
AFSD trains communities about solar energy


Ryan and Thabiso from AFSD trained individuals in our communities of Shamrock, Fitches Corner and Witteklip. Such a wonderful site: the joy of being able to charge their cell phones. See more...

Sunday, 19 October 2014

Knitting Classes

Progress Update
Read the following update from Ms Jeanette Nolte, responsible for this amazing confidence boosting initiative.

From humble beginnings
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Evening Gentlemen, 

Trust you have all had a good rest over the last few days.  
For now this is a one way street so I will say, yes I did have a good weekend  (I take it you would ask the question if you were here),  we  held our Cancer Cup of Tea on Saturday, had plenty of guests, lots to eat and lots of goodies to raffle, made a lot of money for the Cancer Association of SA, but could have done better.

Knitting Classes:
Tuesday will be our last knitting class for this group of ladies as the next Tuesday we are hoping to have a small get together where we can further discuss  a few more ideas.  ( next Tuesday we are hoping to have a small party to thank the ladies who attended the class, for their discipline and loyalty to the programme and to the ladies who so kindly helped train the ladeis).

Last Tuesday just before close of day we all sat together and discussed the way forward. We all agreed that most of the ladies had now ‘mastered the art of knitting’ and were ready to continue on their own, but we were not going to just leave them and walk away.
Incidentally some of the ladies had already bought  wool and needles and were knitting at home, these knitted garments will be displayed at next week’s get together.

I have identified two ladies:
Fitchet’s Corner – Mrs Thembeka Jacobs.
Shamrock – Lindeka Jacobs.

These two ladies get along with all the other ladies and are considered to be ‘leaders’ .
So now the programme would be.

That Ms Jacobs and Lindeka Jacobs continue helping  the ladies  (who had attended the classes) with their knitting at a house in each community.
That once a week or perhaps every second week I would travel to Fitchet’s Corner and Shamrock and meet with the two leaders and as many of the other ladies to see what progress has been made.
However to enable the ladies to continue with their knitting there would be a proposal made to the Africa Foundation to assist with balls of wool until such time as the ladies had   established a good stock of  knitted goods, these goods would then be sold (now that still has to be sorted out).

That the two leaders would also make themselves available to any ‘new learners’ in their respective communities, and teach them how to knit.
By doing this you actually are giving over to the two leaders a great deal of responsibility, which is what I strive for, one cannot always hold a person’s hand when crossing the street, that people  must learn to cross the street on their own, thereby instilling  confidence and a much better chance of success.
I don’t think that this is premature, I think the time is right, we as trainers have unveiled a talent that they did not know existed.

It is time for them to continue on their own, they must not just be  told to get on with the knitting, but that I also remain part of their team and  where my visits to the two communities would be  essential, to encourage and see where there is progress.

That is how I see the way forward for these ladies and believe together all of these ladies make a terrific team.

So like everything else in life I have to have approval of this proposal so that next Tuesday I can assure them that our relationship does not end now but will continue.

Take care and have a great week.
Jeanette L Nolte

Tuesday, 14 October 2014

Capacity Development - 8 Week Youth Development Programme


Youth Capacity Development

An 8 week capacity development programme that was hosted by Ms Jeanette Nolte. The results have been amazing and have provided an insight into the capabilities of the youth within our communities. Read more...

Weekly On-site Project Report

Progress Report

This report is prepared by Thabiso Masigo and is meant to provide a record of his activities and project progress while on-site. Read more...

Weekly Community Project Team Reports

Weekly Project Team Reports from Witteklip, Fitches Corner and Shamrock

This report is prepared by the 3x project coordinators from the community project teams. Read more...


Monitoring & Evaluation

How do you know which direction to guide your vessel? 

Simple, you go in the direction that the wind takes you. So by the same token, who are the individuals that exhibit the characteristics of potential high performers. One needs to constantly measure, monitor and report on performance. In addition, the report provides an indicator of development areas. Read more and let us have your input...

Saturday, 11 October 2014

Community Project Teams

Getting things done

How do you ensure that you drive consistant and sustainable "change" in the communities? 

AFSD has developed an approach that establish project teams in the communities with a clear code of conduct, roles& responsibilities, deliverables and remuneration. The benefit is that the communities are now held accountable for deliver and at the same time, immediate skills development and job creation is instituted. Read more...

Knitting Classes

See the enthusiasm and commitment
Creating a Sense of Purpose

Who would have considered that knitting could be the driver of change. The vision and commitment by Jeanette has provide a sense of purpose for our communities. Of even greater surprise is the attendance of a few male candidates from our communities. See more...






Friday, 10 October 2014

Youth Leadership Program

Ntombizanda Platjie
Monitoring and Evaluation

The greatest challenge with any initiative is to understand what is possible, how to best accomplish the possible and most importantly what to measure, monitor and report. 

AFSD has developed an M&E instrument that is evolving as we gain a better appreciation of our communities. Ntombizanda is one of the youth that has participated in the Youth Leadership Programme. Read more...

Tuesday, 7 October 2014

Knitting Classes

Safe and comfortable transport
Creating a Sense of Purpose

The attendees are collected from the Witteklip, Shamrock and Fitches Corner communities and conveyed to the Blue Horizon Bay Community Centre. See more...





Friday, 1 August 2014

Madiba Day



What the communities said...

AFSD requested that the communities provide written commentary about the 3 days that revolved are Madiba Day, see what they said. Read more...

Saturday, 26 July 2014

Post-Madiba Day


It was COLD!
Capacity Development

There were two session: Improving Capacity in Communication Skills for Youth in Witteklip, Fitches Corner and Shamrock Communities facilitated by Ms Lorena Aguilar. A longer term program of approximately 8 weeks duration for Youth Leadership by Mrs Jeanette NolteSee more...

Friday, 25 July 2014

Our Day to Celebrate Madiba!


Our Celebration of Madiba
An Amazing Day

A full day of activities that are best described by browsing the visual material. See more...


Thursday, 24 July 2014

Pre-Madiba Day


The next Bafana
The Day Before the Big Day!

Lots of preparations were taking place. See more...

Wittklip MPC Renovations


Community Leader Mr Secret Buya addressing the
contractors
Contractors Site Inspection

The transparent process of identifying and selecting a suitable contractor to renovate the Witteklip MPC included the prospective contractors pitching their proposals to the Community Leadership and their Project TeamsSee more...

Friday, 11 July 2014

MWVS Community Development Programme


Community Needs Analysis - Site Visit #2

AFSD visited the Shamrock, Fitches Corner and Witteklip communities as part of the Community Needs Assessment. See more...


Witteklip MPC


Community Leadership and their project
teams are involved from the outset
Contractors Site Visit

This was the initial site visit where the contractors were briefed. prior to the site visit the detailed scope was also circulated. See more...


Thursday, 10 July 2014

MWVS Community Development Programme



The 9 Mother Theresa's
The Start of Big Things!

The turbines that will eventually be the catalysts for change in our communities. See more...