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 about us
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
- Name of the project: The Thusanang Development and Training Project
- Geographical location: Free State, North West, Gauteng, Western Cape, Garden Route & Eastern Cape
- Directors of the project:
S.E. Badenhorst
J.C. Cornelius
MJ Nkogatse
- Contact persons: Sarie Badenhorst
- Postal address: P.O. Box 3106,
Knysna,
6570
- Telephone number: 082 441 3458
- Fax number: 086 516 6983
- Email Address: thusanang@cybertrade.co.za
- Web Site Address: www.thusanangtandd.org.za
- Project beneficiaries:
Over 400 women, most of whom have at least five dependents - thus 2,000 people will benefit in the short term. In the longer term others may join the project, and the community as a whole will benefit from increased income in the area.
- Registration:
NPO Number: 009-382 NPO
Non-profit company / Section 21 (9100138/08)
Status 18A tax exemption 18/9/2/11/1072
Service Seta Accreditation No. 0828/14/10/05
SAQI (South African Quality Institute)
- Auditors: PriceWaterhouse Coopers
- Financial Year: 1 March - 28 February
- Banking details:
Standard Bank
Bothaville Branch
Account number - 040894533
Branch code: 055036
- Awards:
Education Africa Awards in 1995, 1997 and 1999
Education Africa Premier Award 2001
Proudly South African - First Community Award
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history
Thusanang began on the farm Lambrechtsfontein in the Free State in 1982 to address the needs of illiterate and unemployed rural women. In 1991 Thusanang was registered as a Section 21 Company, and over the past 20 years Thusanang has grown and developed a most successful track record focusing on the empowerment of rural women. In 2000 Thusanang established an administrative office in Gauteng at the CSIR in Pretoria. This has not only cut administrative costs substantially, but had enabled us to expand our activities in the Gauteng Province.
The quality of Thusanang’s training has been recognised by three Education Africa Presidential and Premier Awards. Thusanang’s products have also been recognised through awards from Proudly South African.
Today Thusanang works closely with government departments, and networks with other like-minded organisations and corporates in the fight against poverty. Thusanang has Section 18A status from the Receiver, and as such all donations to the organisation are tax deductible. Thusanang relies on organisations, trusts and corporates to provide funding for its work, and we are grateful to all those who help in cash or in kind. Without their support, Thusanang’s work would not be possible.
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Thusanang today
Thusanang focuses on training and job creation programmes for rural women. In our experience in development, spanning over 20 years and working with over 6000 women, we believe that providing women with opportunities for financial advancement are key to any form of empowerment. Giving women the opportunity to learn a new skill, and then helping groups to set up income generation projects, have many positive developmental spin-offs.
Although starting a small business is a great challenge, today Thusanang works with over 30 small income generation projects, that although not making millions, are generating a steady, albeit small, income for the participants. Thusanang recognises that in the rural townships and informal settlements, businesses are run on a survivalist basis, but these small businesses at grassroots level are a vital part of the rural economy.
Thusanang helps groups that have already begun on their own, adding value through training, upgrading equipment, and providing mentorship over a period of time. This includes business support and social support services as these are closely linked. It is unrealistic to expect women to insist on condom use if they rely on their partner for an income. Thusanang provides women with access to an income, and information regarding HIV/AIDS and reproductive health – we have found this a far more effective tool in the fight against HIV, than merely handing out information.
The rural economy is fickle and clearly not all projects will succeed, but over the years many of Thusanang’s projects have succeeded where others have failed. A recent evaluation has shown that this occurs for two reasons, Thusanang’s focus on quality products and services, and the ongoing follow-up which provides mentorship and ongoing assistance in the field, where real lessons are learnt. |
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vision
To service the need for job creation/income generating activities and entrepreneurship in the local communities through education and training, job creation programmes and social support services. In achieving this Thusanang plays an enabling role based on the principles of community participation and community ownership.
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company policy
- All aspects of Thusanang's functioning is structured according to an ISO & legislative complaint Quality Management System
- Training is provided in an on-the-job setting or demand-led as required by faith-based organisations
- Training is cost effective in its recognition of existing skills, and its use of existing infrastructure
- Duplication is avoided by working in partnership with other organisations and government departments
- Emphasis is on creating quality products and quality service
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ownership and management
Thusanang is registered under Section 21 of the Companies Act and this provides that the assets of the company may only be used for the purposes for which the company was registered and on termination must be distributed to another organisation with the same objectives. An audit is performed annually by PriceWaterhouseCoopers. Thusanang is owned and managed by the democratically elected Thusanang Board of Directors.
Thusanang Development and Training has four operating departments:
Finance and Administration
Administration bookkeeping, audit, record keeping, compilation of statistics, stock and database management, financial planning.
Training Department
Training, courseware development and design, community liaison, needs assessment, liaison with the Department of Labour and the SETAs, networking with other training institutions.
Public Relations Department
Market research, marketing of products, stock and order management, fundraising, workshop, conference and show attendance, hosting visitors, financial management, client and donor liaison, general public relations activities.
Facilitation Department
Development facilitation, community liaison, mentoring and monitoring small businesses, HIV/AIDS awareness, practical support to small businesses, needs assessment and evaluation activities, liaison with community structures.
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sponsors and partnerships
Thusanang networks with various other non-government organisations, community based organisations and government departments including: CSIR, SABS, Association of Training Providers, SAQI, the National Arts Council, the National Development Agency, various SETAs (Sector Education and Training Authorities), churches, charities and more.
Funders change from year to year, but to date Thusanang has received support from the likes of:
ABSA Foundation
AngloGold Fund Educational Trust
Anglo American Chairman’s Fund
First Rand Foundation
National Arts Council
National Development Agency
National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund
Nedcor Community Development Fund
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sustainability
If Thusanang is to continue to make a difference, we urgently need funding, particularly for project related administration and overheads. Our current donors are happy to fund training and equipment, but due to the nature of our work, and our geographic focus, our administrative costs increase with each new grant. For example a donation for equipment for ten projects means transporting equipment over great distances, securing it, insuring, and then auditing the grant – all this impacts on our administrative capacity, and is central to our survival. Thusanang is always investigating other funding streams and we are currently exploring further marketing contracts and developing new training programmes. In particular, this year we are focusing on our “Butlerette” training programme whereby we offer training to existing domestic workers to upgrade their skills to become “home managers”, and offering the same programme to the unemployed. We hope to create a database of skilled “Butlerettes” who we will monitor and support. Training offered to current employers will be charged in such a way as to offset training of the unemployed. Any support for this initiative would be greatly valued.
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