Help S. African women build income & HIV awareness

Summary

Rural women need skills and leadership training to participate successfully in local markets. This project allows women to acquire the appropriate skills to sell their products in a female-run market.

What is the issue, problem, or challenge?

Though South Africa has great wealth, the majority of the population still lives in poverty. Those most affected are rural women and their families. Economic apartheid still exists and is now exacerbated by the HIV crisis, and most rural women are unaware of their rights under the new constitution. They need skills and leadership training to successfully position themselves within their family in a way that encourages open dialogue about HIV, and brings in money for basic goods.

How will this project solve this problem?

Hlomelikusasa provides skills training to women for sewing projects, catering, vegetable gardens, and livestock raising they then bring to the market. They train women to be community leaders, advocate for women’s rights and work to end HIV stigma.

Potential Long Term Impact

By providing skills training and a physical market run by rural women, the women of KwaZulu-Natal will open many doors to further empowerment and access to their rights. They will finally become successful citizens of the New South Africa.

Project Message

One member of Hlomelikusasa ran for and won a seat for her regional council: “I don’t speak for only one person now. I learned to speak for many, many people.”
- Virgina Zwane, Member of Executive Committee

Additional Documentation

This project has provided additional documentation in a Microsoft Word file (projdoc.doc).

Resources