PROJECT CONTACT PERSON:

Cindy Delomoney

CONTACT DETAILS:

031 701 7912
083 6599 439
cindy.khulisajarp@mplanet.co.za

PROBLEM STATEMENT:

The Merebank and Wentworth communityis a predominantly Colored and Indian community, situated just 12 Kilometers South of Durban Central in KwaZulu Natal.  The area has a combined population of 63 500 of which Indians and Coloured form over 75%, with Africans forming almost 15% and Whites at just below 10% . The following is a list of common cha...

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PROJECT CONTACT PERSON:

Cindy Delomoney

CONTACT DETAILS:

031 701 7912
083 6599 439
cindy.khulisajarp@mplanet.co.za

PROBLEM STATEMENT:

The Merebank and Wentworth communityis a predominantly Colored and Indian community, situated just 12 Kilometers South of Durban Central in KwaZulu Natal.  The area has a combined population of 63 500 of which Indians and Coloured form over 75%, with Africans forming almost 15% and Whites at just below 10% . The following is a list of common challenges faced within this community apart from its severe impoverished state:

• Substance abuse
• Drug abuse
• Peer Pressure
• Domestic Violence
• Suicide
• Inactive Youth
• Unemployment
• Too many underage clubs and Shebens
• Road Rage accidents

SOLUTION STATEMENT:

The ‘Make it Better Movement’ is an integrated initiative targeted at youth and communities, oriented towards unlocking potential and addressing unmet needs through:

• Empowerment and capacity building amongst youth
• The fostering of social responsiveness and practicing of ubuntu
• The activation of social entrepreneurship and the establishment
• Management of sustainable community development initiatives as well as community mobilization and support.

Consequently the Merewent MIB programe initiated with the development and training of 22 youths from Wentworth and Merebank.

Training and development of youths is divided into two phases for the purpose of the programme.

The first phase aims to develop the persons in their own right and to sharpen mentorship skills amongst the youth. This particular group came into the programme without any skills that could benefit them or the community. There is therefore a need to first address and provide the person with skills at a personal level. Eleven modules were offered to the youth for this purpose:

• Communication
• Youth at risk
• Facilitation skills
• Silence the Violence
• Mentorship
• Counseling Skills
• Domestic Violence
• Drug-Smart Peer Education
• Crime prevention
• Restorative Justice
• Drug Education

The second phase of training that aims to address community issues through and by the youth (Community development) which commenced in January 2009. The following inititives were offered to the community and local schools:

• Drug Education
• Break through- a life skills development programme
• Silence the violence- an intensive aggresion and behaviour change programme
• Feeding Scheme
• Clothes Distribution
• Advice Desk and Awareness Campaigns.

TARGET:

Direct - 20 ‘MIB’ youth leaders from Merebank and Wentworth.
The MIB (Make It Better) programme is a year long process that equips aspirant youth leaders (18-25 years) with a range of competencies, to use in implementing community based capacity building or self-sustaining projects.

Indirect - Schools within the Merebank and Wentworth area.
Youth leaders use the skills they develop from the MIB programme to run projects within the school environment. These programmes are based on life skill development and crime prevention initiatives.

Community of Merebank and Wentworth
Youth leaders run community crime prevention workshops as well as awareness raising programmes which uplift the community and contribute significantly to the decrease in crime within the Merebank and Wentworth area.

IMPACT:

Impact is measured through the use of evaluation forms, participant feedback, meetings and monthly reports.

The MIB programme makes a difference in terms of life skills development, poverty alleviation, crime reduction and prevention.

The project is a sustainable one and is thus currently in the sustainability planning phase.

BENEFICIARIES:

Indirect beneficiaries relate to the the entire community of Merebank and Wentworth.

PROJECT WISH LIST:

Staff needs - one the greatest needs in this respect is said to be the need for office space within the respective community. It becomes quite challenging when administrative demands have to be  carried out at the pinetown office which is approximately 30-40 kms away from the area of work. Following this comes the need for office furniture i.e. tables, chairs, telephones, photo copier and printer.

Funding needs - Due to the depletion of the initial funding , programmes and services (mentioned above),  that are carried out at local schools and the community are under severe budget  constraints. Consequently the stipend allowance to the MIB facilitators are the bare minimum, which results in us having to limit our services.There is therefore a need for funding for such programmes in order to pay facilitators for services rendered. This is done so that the community does not lose out on the great services of the programmes that are currently running. One should also take into consideration that there is a great need to roll out these beneficial programmes to an increased number of schools, but this initiative can only be met once the funding needs for such programmes are taken care of.

Other Needs - Due to the community being severely impoverished there is an immense need for neccesities such as clothes , blankets,  toiletries, stationery,canned foods and other non perishables. These can be handed out to identified families during our feeding scheme programes, which are set to occur on a monthly basis.

Date to update - once every six months.