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NHL have been following a community development project in a
remote region of South Africa where a community are desperately
fighting for survival. We will bring you regular updates on how they
are progressing.
The African Rural Development Corporation, a non profit organisation
is rolling out the “Godisa Project”, a community development
project, co-funded by the European Union, in the remote Phalala
district of the Limpopo Province in South Africa.
The 120,000 inhabitants living in 41 villages live in abject poverty
and are plagued by malnutrition and disease. The community has a
high prevalence of HIV resulting in extended families each
supporting many orphans. Unfortunately there are limited employment
prospects other than subsistence farming.
“Godisa” means “upliftment” in the local language and the project
has been developed as a sustainable organic vegetable growing
programme, the catalyst to “uplift” the community economically,
intellectually and socially.
The Phalala Community Development Trust and the Project Management
Team, together with the African Rural Development Corporation, have
identified and are implementing the required infrastructure and
supporting facilities and resources for the project. Land in each of
the 41 villages has been identified and allocated to the project,
with 50 hectares currently being prepared for the pilot project
growing programme, which will include tomatoes, baby corn and
butternuts.
The “Godisa Project” has a major focus on training and skills
development to ensure sustainability and will create new business
and job opportunities for the community. This will be the driving
force behind the alleviation of poverty, malnutrition and disease
while improving the “quality of life” of the community and enable
the emerging and communal farmers to participate in the local
economy.
The African Rural Development Corporation have negotiated funding
from the European Union and lobbied support from local government
structures to support the project. The major break through has been
the conclusion of an organic vegetable supply contract with a local
company which will ensure the sustainability of the project into the
future.
NHL will follow the “Godisa Project” and bring you regular updates
and pictures of the progress.
We invite all our visitors to take part in the forum item covering
this project and comment on any suggestions to support the project.
Article written by the NHL Research Team
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