A project training women in Sir Lowry’s Pass and Chris Nissen Park to make crafts out of concrete is making a positive difference in these communities. This effort has been made possible through the Community Development Worker Programme.
The Community Development Worker Programme is a national programme where community members are trained in different economic skills to afford them an opportunity to engage in sustainable economic activities; and to facilitate a more constructive relationship between community and government, by creating awareness of government services and providing government with insight into community needs.
This programme is bearing fruit in the suburbs of Sir Lowry’s Pass and Chris Nissen Park, Somerset West. The Community Development Worker in this area identified lack of skills and unemployment, especially among women, as a key issue for these communities, and approached City officials to assist.
As a result, in partnership with the Western Cape Government, a project was launched in November 2021 in the area called Hey Help Woman. This project gave women in the area skills to make crafts such as decorative garden pots out of cement, as well as entrepreneurial training to sell their products.
The City of Cape Town and Western Cape Government provided plants, sand, stones/pebbles, soil, gardening gloves, dust masks, spades, wheelbarrows, cement, concrete dye and paint. They were also assisted in developing a business plan to help them seek private investment, and the community liaison officer is assisting to build networks with local craft markets. The total budget allocated to this project was R90 000.
The Training was facilitated by two local community members who wanted to transfer their skills, noting the increase in poverty in the community.
‘Although this is a relatively small scale project it has been designed to empower participants far into the future. Residents who were previously reliant on government grants, now have their own income stream as well to help support their families.
‘Based on the success of this project, there is definitely potential to provide similar training in other communities who are interested in exploring such opportunities. They should please engage the community development workers operating in their areas,’ said Alderman Grant Twigg, Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Waste Management.
Details of the ward’s allocated CDW officials can be obtained from the local Subcouncil Office.
Residents or businesses who are interested in purchasing these products can contact the area Community Development Worker, Claudia Britz on 076 701 2109.