Women empowerment initiatives celebrated
The initiative created six full-time jobs and six volunteers receive stipends
SOUTH32 employs almost 1 500 women in South Africa, of whom 240 are based in Richards Bay at their Hillside aluminium smelter.
Their collective contributions to various community projects uplift and empower thousands of other women.
On Friday, the company hosted a Women’s Day event during which Community Relations Specialist Venecia van Loggerenberg detailed the impact of various South32 initiatives, including the highly effective Amangwe Women Empowerment Project.
This project was designed to uplift and empower rural, unemployed women modelled on the traditional ‘stokvel’ principle.
Participants contribute only R2 per week.
An astounding 3 568 women are now participating and millions of Rands have been generated as a result.
Many women have started their own businesses such as brick-making, kiosks, catering, airtime sales, farming and crafting.
The ‘Wastepreneur’ recycling project employs six full-time employees, created 10 full-time and 585 part-time micro enterprise opportunities.
The Nawe Zifundzi Disabled Centre, through financial contributions, created employment opportunities in the bakery sector and training in computer skills and specialised driving.
Beneficiaries
The estimated number of beneficiaries are 760, including 76 registered disabled members, who will in turn train others.
The Rainbow Circle project is an NGO based in eShowe and assists victims of domestic abuse, disabled people, children and the elderly, reaching an estimated 9 350 beneficiaries.
The NGO is also responsible for training rural communities about child abuse, domestic violence, human trafficking and gender-based violence.
The initiative created six full-time jobs and six volunteers receive stipends.
Locally the House of Shalom, which is a safe house for abused women and children, provides them with adequate shelter, education, clothing and therapeutic and psychosocial services.
This year 215 women received shelter, 187 was supported and 76 children cared for, with 12 employment opportunities created.
The Red Cross mandate, operating in rural areas, educate communities about HIV and Aids, teenage pregnancies, sugar daddies, STI’s and poverty alleviation.
They have an estimated 5 884 beneficiaries, 12 full-time jobs were created, 28 volunteers receive stipends and 232 home-based caregivers were trained.
HAVE YOUR SAY
Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter.
For news straight to your phone invite us:
WhatsApp – 072 069 4169
Instagram – zululand_observer
