Welkom - Today the communities ofLejweleputswa and Fezile Dabi districts celebrated the successes and achievements of six community projects funded by the National Development Agency (NDA) to the tune of R5 million.
The six projects range from poultry, business skills training, vegetable production, garment making, beaded furniture, fashion accessories, ornaments, medicinal plants nursery for traditional healers and a community project comprising of six schools focusing on sport development programmes for the youth and a feeding scheme that feeds an average of 500 children per day.
One of the projects, Brandfort Poultry in partnership with Waya Waya, has done so well that they supply the formal market with eggs under the brand name of Top Lay, through their partnership with El Alzaar Poultry.The NDA money was used to expand from 10 400 layers to 15 600. On the other hand, the Disabled People of South Africa has trained 52 disabled people in vegetable growing, bicycle fixing, wheelchair and shoe repairs, marketing of their businesses, project management and financial management with the grant t hat it received from the NDA.
“At the NDA, we believe that poverty can be eradicated if communities, through community based organisations, could work hand-in-hand with development agencies such as ours.We always look for commitment, dedication and passion in projects that we fund.Project members have to demonstrate the will to succeed against all odds.
We complement our grant funding with skills training for project members to ensure the long-term sustainability of projects that we fund”, said Dr Anthony Bouwer, NDA Provincial Manager for the Free State.
All these projects have changed the lives of people in their communities by ensuring that there’s food on the table through the gardening projects, skills development and employment for the many women and youth participating in these projects. Beneficiaries include 500 children, 350 households, 12 traditional healers, 44 project members and the innumerous youth who participate in the sports programme.
Source: National Development Agency
