The Department of Social Development will on 16 October 2009, launch a food security project at Thembalethu Qulunqu village in Engcobo at 10h00 in commemoration of the International Day of Poverty Eradication.
Qulunqu village is at ward one, and was identified as one of the three poorest wards. This food security project was initiated by community members with the intention of producing sustainable food supply, reducing unemployment and dependence on social security. The project has 25 members and they received an amount of R750 000 in the 2008/09 financial year.
Recently they received additional funding of R375 000 for extending their storage structure and irrigation system. The project has R23 995,50 in their savings account a clear indicator that the project has potential for sustainability. Social Development MEC Nonkosi Mvana outlined in her policy speech, that an amount of R57,2 million has been set aside for funding 48 projects and 36 existing projects in poverty pockets in rural areas this financial year.
The observance of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty can be traced back to 17 October 1987. On that day, over a hundred thousand people gathered in Paris, France, where the universal declaration of human rights was signed in 1948, to honour the victims of extreme poverty, violence and hunger. The commemoration of October 17 also reflects the willingness of people living in poverty to use their expertise to contribute to the eradication of poverty.
Last year the department completed a very detailed door-to-door survey of the needs of over 7 000 households (covering 34 000 people) in the pilot wards identified by the 11 local municipalities. Intensive community consultation on ways of eradicating poverty culminated in a Poverty Eradication Summit, held in October last year.
For more information contact:
Gcobani Maswana
Cell: 082 281 7410
Issued by: Department of Social Development, Eastern Cape Provincial Government
15 October 2009
Source: Department of Social Development, Eastern Cape Provincial Government
(http://www.socdev.ecprov.gov.za/)
