SASIX

Preparation for ceramics production unit underway

Wed, 7 July 2010

'We are looking forward to doing the ceramics project. We want to learn new things at work'- Helen Dawson, beneficiary

REPORT 1: Irene Homes: A ceramics project for mentally disabled people (http://www.sasix.co.za/projects/view/ED-GP-NOV-0003/)

For the past 22 years, Irene Homes has run a protective work centre that enables mentally disabled men and women to learn skills, be productive and enjoy work and social interaction in a safe and supportive environment. The work centre currently accommodates more than 60 residents and day workers fulfilling contracts for government and corporate clients.

This project will establish a new ceramics production unit and support the project in its 6-month start-up phase. 10 workers will learn new skills and produce porcelain crockery sets commissioned by industrial designers associated with an established product catalogue business.

The project is expected to be implemented from September 2009 to September 2010.

Outputs

Thus far, 10 beneficiaries have been selected after a total of 15 were interviewed, as per original project objectives. An additional 10 abled bodied women were selected to train and work alongside the disabled women. The women will assist with capacity to ensure that order and deliveries are made on time with the correct level of quality control.

This was not part of the original project design, but Irene Homes feels that it will not impact on the project in any way. They have considered division of duties and believe that the structure will allow for the women to work well together. The abled bodied women will eventually leave Irene Homes, with the assistance of organisation with placement in the formal sector.

Most of the project preparation, along with sourcing of equipment, has been completed. A large kiln was donated to the project, which will save on project expenses as Irene Homes only needed to pay for transport and installation. This has been installed.

Training and production is set to begin at the end of January. Training will be hands on and take place over three months on a daily basis. The trainer will stay on for a further three months though, to ensure proper application. One beneficiary will be trained in creating moulds, due to the complexity of this activity. The rest will be trained in producing ceramic goods and may be trained in producing moulds at a later stage if they show capacity.

Expenditure

The cost of the project is R151,731, with R88,481 still outstanding

The organisation has not spent the entire R63,250 that had been allocated through the first tranche. This is mainly due to the large kiln being donated, and the fact the transport and installation costs have not been paid for this thus far.

The balance of the funds allocated to the large kiln will be used for the purchase of a small test kiln, which will be used for smaller pieces that is not necessary to be made in the bigger kiln, as the latter requires greater levels of electricity to power it up.

Materials and stipend costs will be deducted once training and production begin and operational costs will be deducted in the next reporting period.

Monitoring and evaluation

The Irene Homes Workshop Manager will be observing and reporting on quality of products produced, while the Irene Homes Protective Forum will be observing and reporting on actual production, sales and general function of the project. This will be done in the next reporting period, when training and production begin.

Conclusions

The project has commenced with the preparation for the workshop, and is ready to start the next phase, that being training and production. Training should begin towards the end of January, ensuring that the beneficiaries are adequately trained.

The project has changed somewhat, with the inclusion of abled bodied women in the production team. However, this is necessary to ensure honouring of client contracts.

The next phase will see beneficiaries begin production. This will allow them to express themselves through work and be productive members of society, which is hoped will lead to improvement in self-esteem and confidence.

Solar Panels Reduce Electricity Bill at Pevensey Place

Thu, 1 July 2010

“We can already see the reduction in our electricity bill. The money we save can now be used to provide other essential services to our residents.” - Director

Progress Report 1: Pevensey Place- Solar heating system for a home for the disabled (http://www.sasix.co.za/projects/view/VP-KZN-AUG09-0002/)

Pevensy Place is a residential farm that houses 76 adults with cerebral palsy. The residents at the farm assist the staff with the daily activities at the farm including working with cattle and chickens; assisting other residents with more severe disabilities; or helping in the kitchen and the laundry. Pevensey Place believes that these activities serve to give residents a sense of purpose and self-worth.

Through this project Pevensey Place began the conversion of its heating system to renewable energy in order to avoid the frequent power cuts and increasing cost of electricity. The conversion started with the installation of four of the 13 units required for the several buildings that accommodate the residents. The four units funded through SASIX serve specifically identified areas that use the most power, namely the ladies bathrooms and the farm’s kitchen and laundry.

The installation of the four solar panels was completed in March 2010.

Activities and Outcomes

• Four solar panels were purchased from a local producer
• The old geysers were removed by sub-contracted builders
• The four solar panels were installed in the ladies bathrooms, the kitchen, and the laundry room in March 2010

The installation of the four solar panels has resulted in a 35% reduction in Pevensey Place's electricity bill.

Expenditure

The total budget for this project was R50,000 which has been paid in full.

Pevensey place will spend an extra R6000 from its reserves for repairs after one of the panels was struck by lightning and to install lightning conductors on all four solar panels to prevent future damage.

Challenges

• One of the solar panels was struck by lightning soon after being installed
• The remote location of Pevensey Place meant that it took some time for the supplier to attend to the repairs after the lightning damage
• Lightning conductors were added to the budget to prevent future damage during thunder storms
• There have been problems with supplying the ladies’ bathrooms with enough hot water in the morning as Pevensey Place is still trying to get the balance between using electricity and solar power right.

Monitoring and evaluation

The installation was monitored on site by the Director. He was on sight every day and ensured that installation works aligned with quality standards and did not cause unnecessary disruption for the residents. The Director has decided to install lightning conductors to protect the solar panels from future lightning storms.

Savings on the electricity bill are being monitored by the financial administrator. Since the installation of the solar panels, Pevensey Place has seen a 35% reduction in their electricity bill.

Conclusions

Four solar panels have been successfully installed at Pevensely Place. There are already indications that this will ease the financial burden on the home, with a 35% saving off the monthly electricity bill. The residents also now have a supply of heat even when they experience power cuts, which are quite common in the rural part of KwaZulu Natal where the home is located. The shift to renewable sources of energy means that the project will also have a positive environmental impact. The installation of lightning conductors to protect the solar panels will help to ensure that they last and continue to provide a positive social and environmental impact well into the future.

Capital equipment already available at the orchard

Thu, 24 June 2010

"I feel very happy with the intervention of the financial assistance from the private sector and there is a great possibility of project success” – Mr Rossouw Nkosi, supervisor

Progress ONE: Rural Action Committee of Mpumalanga Province (TRAC-MP): Rehabilitating a community-owned blueberry orchard (http://www.sasix.co.za/projects/view/ED-MP-MAY-0014/)

The Coromandel Trust farm, between Lydenburg and Dullstroom in Mpumalanga Province extends over 20ha and is collectively owned by the 248 farm workers. The farm has a solid business plan in place, producing milk, blueberries, peaches, nectarines, maize, soya and beans. One of the sites, a 6ha blueberry orchard has experienced declining yields through frost and hail damage, and through funding from SASIX, TRAC will facilitate its rehabilitation.

Activities and Outcomes

• At this early stage of implementation, TRAC has purchased some of the equipment required to work on the farm, including a tractor and a slasher.
• The organisation is now busy undertaking a detailed evaluation of the existing orchard, including its irrigation infrastructure and staff requirements.
• TRAC estimates that planting will go ahead in October-November 2010.

Expenditure

• Expenses were made according to the original budget. The only modification was the purchase of a new tractor with the funds available for a second hand bakkie and tractor, as originally planned. TRAC managed to secure additional funds to purchase two new bakkies and therefore decided in negotiation with SASIX, to pool funds and purchase a new tractor for the orchard. The R10,384 that has been saved thus far will be set aside for contingencies.

Challenges

The main challenge for the project has been the delay in the delivery of the equipment due to Transnet’s strike in May and the subsequent backlog generated in the South Africa’s main logistical centres. At this point, only the slasher has been delivered; according to the supplying company, the tractor should be delivered to the farm by the end of June.

Monitoring and evaluation

TRAC pays regular visits to the project and has a seat on the Executive Committee of the Trust. One of the main functions of this committee is to track project progress across the various sites on the farm.

Conclusions

The necessary capital equipment, which has been delayed due to external circumstances, should be available at the project site in the next weeks. By this time, the needs assessment of the sites will be finalized and will set the basis for the beginning the rehabilitation work on the orchards.

Helping the Blind to become independent

Thu, 17 June 2010

• ‘I am very grateful for the help given to us blind people’ - - Kahlolo Mvimbe, beneficiary*

REPORT 1: South African National Council for the Blind – Assistive Devices for the Blind in the Free State (http://www.sasix.co.za/projects/view/EC-KZN-AUG09-0001/)

The South African National Council for the Blind (SANCB) identified 96 visually impaired people living in the Free State Province who were in need of assistive devices. Through this SASIX-funded project, the council was able to distribute walking canes, signature guides, money sticks and liquid level indicators to the identified beneficiaries and provide them with the training to get full use out of the devices.

Outputs

The Orientation and Mobility (O&M) Practitioner has trained the 96 visually impaired clients in cane skills and how to use the liquid level indicators, money templates and signatures guides. By the end of the June: * 96 people will have received folding mobility canes * 42 will have received liquid level indicators * 15 will have received money templates * 10 will have received signatures guides.

Expenditure

Challenges

• SANCB originally planned to distribute all the assistive devices on the same day in Welkom. However, due to the great distances between the various Free State towns where the beneficiaries live and difficulties with transport, they did not manage to gather all the beneficiaries to Welkom as planned. SANCB decided to go ahead as planned, and on 18 May 2010 at the Welkom Library, issued 22 Mobility folding canes, 20 liquid level indicators, 10 Money templates and 5 Signature guides. The rest of the assistive devices will be distributed by the O&M practitioner, the Community Developer and the Master Trainer in the Province by the end of June 2010.
• The numbers of devices initially indicated in the proposal has changed, due to the increase of the cost of the devices which is dictated by exchange rates. SANCB originally proposed distributing 50 liquid level indicators, 25 signature guides and 30 money templates, but were only able to buy 42 liquid level indicators, 10 signature guides and 10 money templates. They were still able to buy the 96 mobility canes as planned.
• Some of the initial candidates have either already received assistive devices from another source, or contact has been lost with them. Other suitable candidates have been identified.

Monitoring and evaluation

Records are kept on all the beneficiaries who have received assistive devices. SANCB will follow up on all of these individuals three months after the distribution of the devices.

Conclusions

While the project is taking longer than initially planned owing to transport difficulties, SASIX is confident that SANCB is capable of distributing the rest of the devices by the end of June. These simple devices have the potential to have a radical impact on the beneficiaries’ lives by relieving them of the indignity of being a burden on their families and by giving them the independence to do day-to-day tasks on their own.

Educational Activities get underway

Fri, 11 June 2010

• ‘Well prepared and presented lessons. They did exciting exercises to keep learners attentive. I am so impressed because the Bugs are so helpful. Perfect and excellent lessons.’ - Gladys Mncwabe, principal*

REPORT 1: Midlands Meander Education Project – Integrating environmental education into the school curriculum (http://www.sasix.co.za/projects/view/EC-KZN-AUG09-0001/)

The Midlands Meander Education Project will improve environmental awareness and knowledge at a rural school in Dargle, KwaZulu Natal. The organisation’s vision is to help Midlands schools nurture capable, confident, curious children who are sensitive to environmental issues, who have the resilience to cope with a changing world and are able to contribute positively to their communities

The project began in February 2010 and is due to end in January 2011.

Outputs

• The project has worked with all 112 learners and 6 educators in the past 5 months, this included 8 visits to the school.
• 5 educators have attended one or more of the 6 workshops that have been held so far this year.
• A planning meeting was held with all educators in February to decide on their Eco-School Themes for 2010 and to plan projects and activities according to the curriculum plans of the school involved.
• Midlands Meander facilitators have co-taught classes on a number of environmental issues, including recycling, nutrition, healthy living and creative use of waste.
• The first collection of recyclable materials took place on 24 February and has continued on a monthly basis. Large bags and metal drums are used to collect recyclable materials and keep waste separate.
• An organic farmer visited the school in May 2010.
• The children were assisted in making collage posters to celebrate Earth Day. These have been entered into the HSBC Climate Change Poster Competition.
• 31 Grade 6&7 learners went on a field trip to the Go Green Recycling Centre and Umgeni Valley Nature Reserve on 14 May. They learnt all about how recyclables are sorted and they also did a mini species investigation in the Umgeni River Valley.

Expenditure

The total budget for the project is R50 000 of which R 25 050 has been paid to the project by SASIX. R18 481 of this first payment has been spent so far.

The project has under spent by R 6 569. These costs will be incurred in the next 7 months of the project.

Challenges

One of the outputs of this project included the collection of recyclable materials by the students. Stopping the recyclable waste from making a complete mess of the school grounds was a challenge. Once the metal bins were in place, rather than the bags, this was alleviated. They needed to ensure that more indoor space was set aside for the storage of the waste, rather than under the trees, as having the waste outside made the school grounds look untidy.

The shortened school terms, which are a result of the World Cup, made it difficult for educators to set aside time for gardening. They have therefore prepared the garden for a spring planting and have planted a small number of cold weather veggies.

The teachers at the school often ask the project organisers to include activities which are not in their original proposal. Midlands Meander, however, are reluctant to deviate from the approved funding proposal. A boy in a wheelchair attended the Fieldtrip, which meant activities had to be altered slightly to suit him.

Monitoring and evaluation

A questionnaire was designed for educators and for learners. It was conducted in February and will be repeated in November. The questionnaire focuses on the things the project aims to achieve over the year. Focus areas include confidence, knowledge, skills and capability. To make it exciting for the learners, the class was divided into two teams in order to answer the questions. It became evident that the learner’s knowledge of basic ecological concepts was limited – no one had heard of biodiversity or climate change and one boy thought that eco-system was “a sound system for your car.” Many said that they knew how to grow vegetables and could also confidently name medicinal plants and wild greens. Most said that they recycled, but the project facilitators are unsure of exactly what the children mean, as there was no recycling service (or even waste collection) in the area, so it could mean that they reuse packaging. One learner attempted to answer the question about recycling by explaining the water cycle.
The educators’ questionnaire was a written one and asked some similar questions. Many said that they knew about gardening from attending previous workshops. They indicated that they would like to learn about Healthy Living, Permaculture, Biodiversity and the Use of Waste for Craft. The questionnaire also identified a number of areas in the curriculum where educators needed support – these included Life Skills, Natural Science, Social Science and Economic and Management Sciences. The questionnaires will be redone at the end of the year in order to measure the improvement in the knowledge, the confidence and the skills of both the learners and the educators.

Conclusions

The Midlands Meander Education Project set out to provide comprehensive training in ecology and other environmental issues in a rural school in Dargle, KwaZulu Natal. Both in the classroom, through co-teaching and teacher-support; and out of the classroom, through field trips and extra-curricular activities, the project has been highly effective and have been thoroughly enjoyed by the learners and educators alike. The enthusiasm for the project by both the learners and the educators should ensure the successful implementation of the project over the next 7 months.

Toy Library Project Underway

Mon, 7 June 2010

“We are very excited that our children will be able to play and learn in a safe place.” - Auntie May Buthelezi

REPORT 1: Toy Library for Children from Mbuba Village (http://www.sasix.co.za/projects/view/VP-KZN-AUG09-0002/)

The Little Elephant Training Centre for Early Education (LETCEE) is establishing a container-based toy library in Mbuba village. This will significantly improve the quality of play opportunities and provide children with constructive leisure time activities. The library will lend toys to responsible adults and provide on-site play activities.

The project began in April 2010 and is due for completion at the end of April 2011.

Outputs

• A container was acquired and then delivered on Wednesday the 19th of May 2010.
• The container was positioned in the grounds of the Community Hall in the Mbuba area.
• Concrete stands were built for the converted container to rest on in oder to prevent rust. The materials for the construction were provided by LETCEE and the work was carried out by a contractor from the local community. The stands conform to the required standards.
• A cement slab is being constructed outside the entrance to the container to prevent dust and sand entering the container. Cement and blocks were purchased and delivered for this purpose. Some discount was obtained from the local hardware store.

Expenditure

The total budget for this project is R49, 500 of which R29,500 has been paid.

Challenges

• While necessary for ensuring community buy-in, working with the relevant community structures requires broad consultation, and this has been a slow process.
• A strike by workers at PortNet delayed the delivery of the container.

Monitoring and evaluation

The construction of the stands was closely monitored. This was done in order to ensure that the stands complied with the standard requirements.

The ongoing activities at the toy library will be monitored as planned once the toy library is functioning.

Conclusions

The delivery and installation of the container has created great excitement within the community. A community member was given the materials to build the stands for the container to rest on. These were successfully completed in compliance with the relevant standards. R5000 worth of toys has been ordered so far and all the materials needed for the completion of the concrete slab have been purchased.

New books on their way to Ncemaneni

Tue, 1 June 2010

• ‘We started selecting books from the first day. Most of the books we selected are written in IsiZulu including collections of poetry, novels and short stories. We also chose some English novels; books on sport, religion, and computer literacy, we also bought a few Maths books.’ Ms. Mhlongo, school librarian.*

REPORT 1: Ncemaneni Container Library Project (http://www.sasix.co.za/projects/view/EDU-KZN-MAR09-0003/)

The Izzi Trust will provide Ncemaneni Combined School with improved reading resources in the form of 1,200 new books in English and Zulu. 388 children from Grade 0 to Grade 9 will have access to a wide variety of specially selected fiction, poetry and grammar books as well as comics and an Encyclopaedia. The expanded school container library will benefit an additional 22 students from the Adult Based Literacy (ABET) classes held at the school weekly, as well as over 200 AIDS orphans who attend the daily soup kitchen at the school and listen to story-telling and reading by teachers.

The project began in March 2010 and is due for completion at the end of June 2010.

Outputs

• Two staff members from the Izzi Trust travelled to Ncemaneni on the 24th to 26th February to explain how the SASIX grant works to the school principal, the librarians and the library committee. The implementation schedule was drafted and accepted during this meeting.
• Biblionef was commissioned to provide the library with 975 books, fully covered and stickered
• The Izzi Trust coordinated the trip from Durban to Cape Town for the two librarians to choose appropriate books for the library.
• The librarians choose 53 library resources including posters and puzzles
• Two-thirds of the books chosen are in IsiZulu, while the remaining third are in English and include novels and poetry; History books; and Maths, Science and Computer literacy study guides.

Expenditure

The total budget for this project is R99,900 and R19 900 has been paid.

The Izzi Trust used the first payment from SASIX to send two librarians from the school to Cape Town to choose books for the library. Although the flights for the librarians cost R1100 more than anticipated, expenses for this trip were generally well managed. The money originally budgeted for the car rental was not used and was later reallocated to the car rental expense of the coordinating team's first visit to Ncemaneni.

Challenges

Initially Izzi Trust anticipated that they would secure approximately 1200 books for the library. However, due to price increases between 2009, when the quote was first submitted, and early 2010, when the librarians chose the books, they were only able to get 975 books.

Some of the books ordered from Biblionef were not available at the Biblionef warehouse and had to be ordered directly from the publishers. This fact has delayed the delivery of books, which will happen in June 2010.

Monitoring and evaluation

Once the books chosen by Ncemaneni Combined School's librarians reach the library, the following indicators will be used to measure the successful implementation of this project:

• The library Committee will meet quarterly as to discuss arising issues such as loss, damage, repairs and possible increases of the library collection. Minutes of these meeting will be provided to SASIX.
• An activity report will be submitted, detailing the monthly site visits undertaken by the Izzi Trust and the other members of the library committee.
• A report summarising the library usage records by sex and book category will be submitted
• Once the project has been fully implemented, school results of a selected sample of learners in language subjects will be monitored and compared against results in previous years in order to establish the impact of the enlarged library.
• Course results by ABET students will also be assessed and compared to previous years’ results.

Conclusions

The lack of resources is one of the biggest barriers to education confronted by many South Africans, particularly those living in remote rural areas. This project helps break down this barrier for the learners at Ncemaneni. By opening its doors to ABET students and orphans that attend the drop-in centre, its impact will extend far beyond the school itself and become an important centre of learning for the surrounding community.

A Safer Kitchen for the Kids of St Joseph’s

Fri, 7 May 2010

REPORT 1: St Joseph's Home for Chronically Ill Children – Upgrading kitchen facilities in a home for chronically ill children (Weblink: http://www.sasix.co.za/projects/view/VP-WC-AUG09-0002/)

This project will upgrade the kitchen facility at St Joseph’s Home, replacing some of the old fittings, which no longer comply with the requirements of the Department of Health, with modern stainless steel equipment. This will provide a more hygienic and safer environment to prepare food for the children.

The project began in March 2010 and was due for completion at the end of April 2010.

Outputs

• The stainless steel stove canopy, complete with four louver frames has been installed, inspected for quality of work, and this part of the project is completed. The contractor has been paid for the completed work.

• The installation of the canopy resulted in the re-arrangement of the work area, and as a result the measurements of the tabletops required in the kitchen have changed. The company responsible for the installation has re-submitted work plans, which has resulted in delays to the original time frames. The final delivery and or conversion of the tabletop will take another four to eight weeks. No payment has been made for the table tops.

• The delivery of the stainless steel drip tray has been delayed, but is anticipated within the next two weeks. No payment will be made until the tray arrives.

Expenditure

The total budget for this project is R61,482 and has been paid in full.

Challenges

As discussed above, the installation of the canopy led to a re-arrangement of the work area. This means that the rest of the project has been delayed by up to eight weeks. Fortunately, however, this will not have any impact on the cost of the project.

Monitoring and evaluation

The canopy was properly installed. It took the contractor an extra two weeks of work to complete the installation. The Director of the Home, the Fiscal Director and the Maintenance Manager reviewed the work and approved the payment. The Home worked closely with the Department of Health to make sure the work performed was in line with their recommendations. A Department of Health inspection is expected within the next 12 months.

Conclusions

The new equipment has already made a noticeable difference to the kitchen. The management of the Home as well as the head chef have all expressed their satisfaction with the progress thus far and look forward to the completion of the project. Although the project will take longer than initially anticipated, the new layout of the kitchen has created a space that is much better suited to the needs of the kitchen staff, and the Home is confident that the contracted company will be able to complete the work within the next eight weeks without changing the cost of the project.

Upgrade of baboon rehabilitation enclosures

Thu, 4 February 2010

Progress Report 1: Rehabilitation and Release of a Troop of Chacma Baboons

Chacma baboons are known for getting too close to human settlements, which results in them growing dependant on humans and, frequently, to injuries. Without rehabilitation, these baboons face a lifetime in captivity or even euthanasia. CROW is the only rehabilitation centre for baboons in the region, and is responsible for the rehabilitation and release of the sub-species of chacma baboon concentrated in Kwa-Zulu Natal and the Eastern Cape.

This project aims to rehabilitate a group of baboons who have grown dependant on humans. CROW aims to release them back into the wild within the next year. The rehabilitation process involves socialising the baboons by introducing them to each other over time, so that they will form relationships and bond as a functioning troop. The project will also upgrade the existing baboon enclosures at CROW, which are used for rehabilitation.

The project timeline is April 2009 to March 2010.

Impact and Outputs

The project started before the SASIX grant was released. Prior to receiving SASIX funding, 17 baboons were captured, rehabilitated, and released. They were monitored for a period of five months after their release. A further nine baboons have since been captured and are being rehabilitated to prepare them for reintroduction into the wild in late September.

The rehabilitation centre has been upgraded to provide additional space and suitable facilities for the banoons. Specifically:

• CROW acquired six sleeping kennels through a donation, and a further eight kennels are currently being built.

• In two of the three enclosures, jungle gyms were constructed using donated poles, while allocated funds went to the labour required to construct them. A third jungle gym will soon be erected in the third enclosure.

• Poles and roofing was budgeted for to extend the current baboon enclosures. However, the enclosures already have suitable roofing and CROW have asked the funding for the roofing to be reallocated to electric fencing, which would be more suitable for keeping the baboons within the enclosures.

• Six security gates were installed in the three enclosures. This is one more than the five that were originally budgeted for. This is due to a change in the original design of the enclosures, which would have allowed for five gates. CROW has requested that the balance of funding for the kennels be allocated to the upgrade of a tunnel connecting the two existing enclosures to a newer, third enclosure.

• Two water troughs have been installed, and another two are due to be installed in February 2010. All enclosures were equipped with items to keep the baboons occupied. These items included recycled and donated ships ropes, suspended plastic and metal drums, and old car tyres. More items, including shipping ropes, natural vegetation, drums and other items will be sourced in February 2010.

Expenditure

The cost of the project is R95,000, with R15,900 outstanding.

There is significant under spend on the budget, as most budget items were sourced at a lower cost, were donated, or still need to be purchased. As discussed above, the funds allocated for the poles and roofing will be used for the electric fencing. The balance of the kennels, after the additional kennels have been built, will be used for the construction of the tunnel connecting the two current enclosures to the new third enclosure.

Challenges

• In the past year, CROW has had difficulties resulting from high staff turnover, as critical project implementers left the organisation. This led to difficulties in handover and reconciliation of what had and had not been implemented, which in turn led to the project being delayed. According to CROW, these issues have now been resolved, and one of the Management Committee has stepped into the role in order to stabilise the staff situation as well as implement all outstanding projects.

• After the successful release of the second troop of baboons, the owners of the site (a game reserve) erected guest accommodation between two watering holes that were frequented by the baboons. This was not part of the planning when the site was originally selected for release. The sudden presence of humans and a ready food source led to the troop raiding some of the homes and gardens. This problem resolved itself when the lead male of the troop disappeared and the troop was taken over by one of the local wild baboons, who was not accustomed to humans and therefore steered clear of the guest accommodation. This will be taken into account when releasing the remained of 9 baboons and deciding on a release site.

  Monitoring and evaluation

Baboons get identified by their sex and age and are given electronic tags. Baboons are also periodically observed through binoculars. Data is collected on:

• Their GPS location
• Which other baboons they are with
• How many of them are together at a position
• Day-to-day activities and changes in behaviour
• The habitat and vegetation type and the amount of time spent there
• Their general condition including weight, coat, demeanour, and any visible injuries

A project summary report is drawn up and discussed at a post-release meeting between CROW and KZN Wildlife. The analysis of the data is useful to determine whether a release site was suitable and whether other factors need to be taken into account in future. This will include things like the habitat type, the proximity of humans, and the structure of the troop in terms of age and sex.

Conclusions

The project, while starting late and experiencing some problems in the initial stages, has progressed well. They have consolidated all work from previous project implementers and have laid out clear plans for the future of the project. There have been some changes to the project budget. However, these changes are justified and will be of benefit to the baboons’ rehabilitation.

The rehabilitation and release of the troop to a suitable site, sufficiently remote from human settlement, will ensure that these animals are prepared for life in the wild, able to survive independently of human support and able to breed successfully.

Girls and women making responsible decisions for themselves and their families

Fri, 18 December 2009

“The Rural Eco-warrior training was very beneficial for me, as it provided all of us with skills to chair and facilitate some aspects of the training without much pre-planning from our side,” – Rural eco-warrior from North West province.

REPORT 1: “Having the clinic right here makes it possible for me to get my family planning injection when I need it. They also help me understand how to look after myself “, Fundiswe – beneficiary

This project will enable the Hantam Community Education Trust to run an intensive family planning programme for 92 girls in the rural communities within a 150km radius of Hantam in the Northern Cape. As part of a larger programme located at the local clinic established by the organisation in 2002, Hantam health workers will conduct approximately 22 pregnancy tests and offer family planning information over the year. Because there is no government healthcare in the area, the women and girls would otherwise have no access to these services.

The project runs from May 2009 to July 2010.

Outputs and impact

Hantam Community Education Trust’ family planning programme has been implemented as part of a more holistic intervention in the community, which includes education on hygiene and healthy living, effective parenting, growing vegetable gardens, preventing and addressing alcohol abuse and encouraging HIV testing. Specific outputs of the family planning intervention are the following:

• Contraceptive injections were administered to 118 women, seven of whom are under the age of 18. No teenage pregnancies were recorded.

• Eighty-seven women took pregnancy tests, the results of which were all negative.

• Health workers conducted 44 parenting training visits to 28 local farms. At the visits, 54 mothers were involved in workshops to support and enhance the quality of care and education they provide to their children (nutrition, developmental phases, stimulation materials, etc.). These workshops include a close monitoring of 52 babies and toddlers.

• The clinic is now open twice a week and receives an average of 53 visitors. The extra day is dedicated to monitor physical and psychological condition of 220 school-going children.

• The clinic has collected R16,479 in fees since the beginning of the year, which is approximately 27% of the total cost of medicines used per year. This income contributes to the sustainability of the organisation as well as proving community buy-in.

Expenditure

The cost of the project was R 23, 860 with R 7, 385 still to be paid. This budget is a portion of a larger intervention, which is funded with additional funding from other donors.

Monitoring and evaluation

Hantam follows well-structured monitoring, reporting and evaluation systems in order to maintain the quality of their programmes and identify arising issues in need of special intervention.

Health workers compile weekly reports including a detailed description of home visits, family situations, challenges faced and required follow-up steps. Counselling and testing sessions are recorded in individual’s file, together with home and farm visit reports.

Health workers and clinic staff meet weekly to monitor the progress of the project and to outline the next steps for individual cases. The meeting also provides staff with an opportunity to highlight and worrying health developments or need for referrals. The project manager responsible for coordinating outreach activities prepares and monitors projected weekly planning. She is also responsible for compiling quarterly reports, which serve to assess programme progress over time.

Clinical staff record and track their activities, including statistics on medicines provided, number of patients visited, cash-flow status, and so on. The clinical manager compiles these weekly reports into a monthly report which is then submitted to Hantam Director.

Conclusions

Hantam provides a holistic health service to a very isolated farming community, which is tailored to the needs of the families living on farms. They are meticulous in the monitoring of their various programmes.

Hantam educates women, from younger ages, about their essential body functions and enables them to take responsible decisions around their sexual and reproductive health and planning. This support is carried through to families in order to be able to better care, raise and educate their children.