Fun auction in Winston Park to inject funding into 20-year-long development project

ALMOST 20 years ago, Durban’s Sue Hedden wrote the first grant proposal that launched Woza Moya Community Development Project (WOZA MOYA) destined to grow into a thriving community-based NGO which daily improves the lives of close on 10,000 people in the Ufafa valley near Ixopo.

Woza Moya Ixopo, not to be confused with the craft shop of the same name in Botha’s Hill, works to build the capacity to improve health and quality of life of vulnerable and marginalised people in rural KwaZulu-Natal.

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Since the start, as founding director, Hedden has been hands-on steering—with a small team—what is widely regarded as a model in South Africa for NGOs in terms of transformation (lives empowered and uplifted) and impeccable financial accountability.

To mark 20 years the team is launching “Friend Raising”, a creative, friendship-based support initiative. The motivation is to generate financial sustainability for Woza Moya. Upper Highway resident Sue Winchester said she first met the non-profit’s Heddon a while ago and decided she wanted to help out.

“She shared her financial woes with me and I thought it would be a great charity to support,” said Winchester. “It is a very worthwhile cause and for the fundraising auction we are asking people to attend and bring along something previously loved to be auctioned off.”

However, with her tongue firmly in her cheek, Winchester did point out that the request for previously loved items excluded family members.

“That means you can’t bring your husband, wife, or children to auction off!” she laughed. 

At the heart of the Friend Raising concept is a simple request: “We are asking people to host tea parties where the Woza Moya story can be shared,” said Hedden.  The auction in Winston Park is a creative adaptation of the tea party, and Hedden stressed that just such creative adaptations are most welcome.

“We are saying: those who want to be hands-on are welcome to become involved with Woza Moya. And there are other ways. For those who don’t have the time or inclination, we need their support. It might be financial. It might be hosting or attending a tea party—at home, at a school, at the office or a community centre—to spread the message.”

“We want people to know that when they give, what they give is not going into a dark hole. We have a clear vision of how to make Woza Moya self-sustaining,” stressed Hedden.  The vision is to build a small Zulu village at Woza Moya: “to accommodate both interested South Africans and our international friends”.

The idea has grown from an expressed need. “I get emails all the time from people who want to come and engage with the community. Regular requests for accommodation from overseas, both from travellers who have read about us and from people keen to volunteer or do research in the community.”

Where tourism meets “conscious” travel

The idea is at the cutting edge of where travel and tourism meet experiential travel, responsible and conscious travel.  The Zulu village would be “for-profit”. As such it would operate as a separate trust; as a business run by a separate team. It would address Woza Moya’s funding requirements long-term.

“So we have this long-term sustainable financial plan. We need people to help us get there. Then we won’t need them any more. The Zulu village will provide the funding needed to make Woza Moya—our many projects, services and community work team members—self-supporting into the future.”

The Ufafa region is home to close on 30,000 people. They live in a jumbled patchwork of mud, thatch, concrete block and tin dwellings that stumble, in organised confusion, up and down hills and valleys of this densely populated slice of rural KZN. Few of the dwellings have electricity or sanitation. Many who live there are obliged to trek long distances to collect firewood. Most get water for drinking, washing, cooking and bathing from the river and hand-activated boreholes.

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Woza Moya Ixopo might easily be mistaken for the Hillcrest Methodist Church’s Hillcrest Aids Centre Trust (HACT) income-generating craft project, established after 2000, Woza Moya. However, they are not the same project.

“The focus at Woza Moya Ixopo 20 years ago was primarily supporting a population ravaged by HIV-Aids. Since then, the focus has broadened. “Our main work now is with young people: early childhood and youth development.”

For more information about how you can help contact Sue Hedden at sue@wozamoya.org.za to host a tea party.

The Winston Park event takes place at noon on Sunday, 25 August, at Eagles View, 4 Galloway Lane, Winston Park. Winchester said in order to book a place at the event it is essential to contact Sue Winchester on 083 673 7975.

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