Update on the Women’s Enterprise group

The initial support that went from Cholsey to Kodumela was to help an unfunded co-operative of women, who had both the motivation and skills to set up business. This group took on the name the Lafata Project (meaning ‘dig’ from the African proverb encouraging ‘digging’ efforts to reap rewards) and started their enterprise with simple sewing and beadwork.

Even before the first Choko trip, the group of 10 women was progressing well and had expanded their activities to include sconemaking, based on a gap in the market. They were also actively engaged in providing voluntary care for orphans and vulnerable children and manned the feeding station that provided regular meals for these local children. They even roped Rev. Andrew Petit in to helping one day!!

Now in November 2008, they are a fully independent group, legitimately registered with the government as a ‘not-for-profit’ organisation and completely self-sufficient. They continue to provide social help, currently feeding 122 children a day, and have expanded their social activities to mentor 20 local girls, all selected in association with World Vision from sponsored children, to target those girls most suitable and in greater need of acquiring vocational skills.

They have also expanded their scone making activities, with the help of a grant from the South African bank to buy an industrial oven, increasing production capacity by 100%. This grant was provided in recognition of the organisation and enterprise of the group and their achievement in becoming registered. They have also increased their craft activities, now incorporating traditional ceremonial crockery and have accessed the municipality’s craft promotion scheme. As well as selling at a big show, they have been included in a promotional leaflet for local craftspeople, hence opening their market to a wider audience.

As if this wasn’t enough, they have also improved their gardening project, now able to sell surplus tomatoes, as well as setting up a chicken rearing business and an egg business selling up to 90 eggs per day! It’s no wonder they are now employing two members of staff including a bookkeeper! This is why your ‘helping hand up’ is completely different from a ‘handout’ – these enterprising women are now helping themselves, their families, local children and the community in general, as well as inspiring neighbouring villagers to replicate their model enterprise. Thank you!

Update on the Goats from Cholsey

Although most of the goats purchased with money from supporters in Cholsey, were distributed across many different villages and families, there was an exception! The goat project!

With there being such a high proportion of orphaned and vulnerable children in the area, these disadvantaged youngsters are often forced to leave education before reaching their potential due to financial pressure. The staff at Kodumela identified ten boys, aged between nine and fifteen, who could benefit from the goats in a better way.

Staff arranged for a section of their grounds to be converted to a goat yard, with shelter and fencing, within the security of the compound and the nightwatchman. Then they set up a training scheme for the ten boys, on a rota basis, to learn to care for the goats and be trained in goat-rearing. This way they stay in full time education and ‘graduate’ from the scheme with 5 goats each, that they have helped to rear. These goats can then either be sold for uniform fees, books etc. or provide food and milk or better still, be used to set up a breeding project utilising the training already given.

The boys take turns before and after school to complete their ‘shift’ in taking the goats to pasture, ensuring the shelter and water is provided, checking the health and progress of the goats and their kids(There are already six kids!). This project was further enhanced by introducing a new breed of goat with a higher milk yield, making them even more valuable to the boys.