The 50th National Arts Festival may have drawn to a close, but more good news is on the cards for Makhanda thanks to ongoing upliftment programmes to be overseen in the town!
Makhanda, South Africa (04 August 2024)—The National Arts Festival (which celebrated 50 wonderful and important years recently) may have come to an end, but good news for Makhanda is still rolling in.
The NAF itself is part of a special collaboration aimed at empowerment through the creation of job opportunities that go far beyond the festival—the Social Employment Fund that since beginning two years ago has sparked immense positive impact!
Through the SEF, NAF manages over 2,000 previously unemployed locals at its various projects for Makhanda, with each participant paid a stipend for this part-time work. The focus is on community development, all while performing important work for the town, from maintaining and upgrading infrastructure to clearing storm water drains, fixing potholes, collecting litter, fixing schools, planting gardens, recycling waste and working for social change!
Hilton Haakonsen, Project Manager of NAF’s SEF, shares: “Participants are drawn from all areas of the community. Some even have master’s degrees, others haven’t finished school but the commonality is employment and, more importantly, skills development. SEF is about work that needs to be done and people that need work.”
How it Works
Participants are divided into groups and given various tasks for which they are trained and paid. Catching multiple butterflies with one net, the project not only offers work but work that benefits the town and the environment.
“We are extremely proud of the SEF projects which are fully integrated,’ says Monica Newton, CEO of NAF. The refuse collected is sorted, glass and plastic recycled and reused, alien vegetation is chipped, turned in compost and used in our food gardens. It’s about the projects collaborating to make ensure our efforts are successful.”
Since its inception, there has been a 90% reduction in litter along the river banks, and garbage going to the landfill has also reduced by over 20%. Additional successes include:
- Increased food security and nutrition through the establishment of 27 food gardens, including one home garden and a large market garden
- Maintenance of over 27 schools and ECD centres
- Greening the environment and clearing over 51 hectares of invasive plants
Paving Makhanda’s Future One Brick at a Time
One of the latest projects for Makhanda is a factory that’s making bricks and pavers. This began a few months ago, borne out of a need for building materials and finding alternative uses for recycled material. The bricks are produced using a mix of ground recycled glass and finely chipped plastic, mixed with cement.
Hilton says the aim is to become self-sustainable from the sale of compost, bricks and pavers.
Skills Transfer
Part of the SEF programme includes life skills training as well as teaching participants additional skills to help them perform better. Participation in work not only provides much-needed income through stipends, it also gives people entry-level work readiness skills and the confidence to seek work opportunities— vital for securing a job and enhancing enhances of becoming self-employed.
“Receiving a stipend for work done instils a sense of dignity and purpose. It reinforces the fact that participants are earning their livelihood through their efforts and contributions within their communities,’ says Monica.
“It has been incredible to watch the transformation of people, who haven’t had a job for years, earn their own money. They are not only proud of the work they are doing but are also first-hand witnesses to the difference they are making within the community.”
Through NAF’s projects, participants have gone on to gain permanent employment as team leaders, with the others employed for a few days a month on a contract period.
Why Social Employment Matters
The SEF is as ambitious as it is vital in addressing unemployment and helping foster economic resilience. To date, over 117,000 people have participated in and benefitted through SEF nationally, with 65% being young people and 70% being women. Around 65% of the work is in rural and peri-urban areas.
“Investing in social employment is not just a matter of economic policy, it is a commitment to building a more inclusive and prosperous society,” says SIvu Siwisa, Social Employment Network Campaign Manager. “From individuals to the broader community and economy, through enhanced employability, economic growth, social inclusion and reduced unemployment.”
The SEF is open to additional collaboration and partnerships and anyone keen to make a difference or to be part of the initiative can learn more here.
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