Project: To empower women to support their own families,
build good support systems in their communities and become 
politically relevant role players within their regions.

Women gather in small groups where the focus of each group is on financial savings and management, social support and political relevance. eThembeni teams assist with training on the Self Help Group model, Micro Business Management, Soya Production faming (a crop that is highly sought after and well-paid), Soil Management, and other modules that contribute to family health like Family Values.

As soon as the groups are established, they form clusters in the same community. The clusters support the groups and work on income generation, problem solving and mentoring. Established clusters form wider Associations, where political relevance is encouraged.

Groups are mentored by trained facilitators who are themselves trained and monitored by a full time staff member. 
     IMPACT IN 2015/2016
  • 2000 rural woman gathered in small groups.
  • Impacting the lives of 10 000 children.
  • 3 CLA woman clusters were formed.
  • 12 community gardens were built.
  • A distance of 12 459 km was travelled to support these projects i.e from Durban to Cape Town and back 3.8 times.

This is what we do...

Mrs. Maureen Makhaya coordinates Umazisize, while Mrs. Constance Moloi manages supervision and M&E&L with the help of 6 part time facilitators. 
Funding plays a large role in how many people we can employ - but as the project grows from strength to strength, more hands are needed. 
eThembeni has a campsite and training center  near Pepworth, Ladysmith.
A big part of the Umazisize project  involves training programs which aim to empower woman in rural areas, teach leadership and life skills and to share information about social problems like HIV and Aids.  
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The training programs include SHG modules with Sinamandla, CEDPA GWIM62 woman empowerment, Eden Foundations’ Soya products, no–tilling soya and vegetable production, ACAT leadership and life skills, Zazi gender awareness and Brothers for Life.
      DID YOU KNOW? 
  • Soya production is an excellent cash crop, with better returns than illegal dagga (marijuana)
  • In 2015/2016 our various women's groups saved over R300,000!

How can you get involved & make a difference?

CAN YOU SUPPORT US?

Donate to the ongoing costs of this project today, and sow some hope!  

CAN YOU FILL OUR WISH LIST?

We currently need the following:  
  1. Travel sponsorship - it costs our teams R3/km to get to the groups
  2. Sewing machines to start up new income-generating projects

GET INVOLVED!

Be part of our team and get hands-on! Drop us an email and join us for the day/week!
Please pray for rain - the ongoing drought has taken a devastating toll on farming.
The self help group project held a competition evaluating the administrative and book keeping skills of the women groups. I was privileged to hand out the prizes. I have great appreciation of what the SHG project has done for skill development in disadvantaged communities.  - Councilor Mathebulu, eMaswazini, Bergville. 

Thank you to our partners!
ACAT, South African Learning and Transformation Alliance (SALT), BijzondereNoden, Prisma (MFS2 Netherlands), Foundations for Farming, Edamame Soya, Eden Foundation, Sinamandla, GWIM 62,CEDPA, Usizo, KZN CMD Family Preservation, American Peace Corps, Family Impact, Durban Overall, CMD uThukela (Supervision), DSD (Salary staff).