Vicariate Apostolic of Ingwavuma

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INTRODUCTION:

1. The Catholic Church considers the scriptural injunction to address the welfare of “our neighbours”, and to fulfil the role of “our brother’s keeper”, as central to the Christian faith.

1. The Church attempts to comply with this injunction in southern Africa through community initiatives.

1. Community development for the poor and the needy and anti-poverty initiatives by creating environmental awareness, providing resources, training and facilities, product development with the goal of creating skills development and to encourage, support and give assistance to emerging micro enterprises to improve capacity and to start and manage businesses.

1. The Church raised funds from Government and other sources for the purposes of initiating and supporting this programme in South Africa to implement and co-ordinate poverty relief activities of the type referred to in paragraph C above, in a manner which facilitated the development of human capacity and self-reliance.

1. The Church and the community initiated the establishment of this Trust in order to implement activities of the type contemplated above.

The project originally was established under the sponsorship of Kopanang Community Trust (Gauteng) in January 2008. It was an initiative of Sr. Sheila Flynn OP (Kopanang’s manager). The idea was to train some women who need to earn an income, gain skills and work together to support each other.

Initially nineteen women from Malusi Omuhle Parish (Hlabisa) committed themselves to work together as a support group. They choose the name of the Hlanganani Community Trust for the project. In 2008 they had three training workshop (20 days). They are still under training.

Hlanganani Programme seeks to empower and transfer skills to Beneficiary Communities, and assist those Communities to address their poverty-related needs. By way of illustration only, such Programme will involve:

• Creating income-generating activities using traditional crafts, aimed at the tourist market.

• Supporting vulnerable children.

• The prevention of HIV infection, and the provision of preventative and education programmes relating to HIV/AIDS.

• The care, counselling and/or treatment of persons afflicted with HIV/AIDS, including the care or counselling of their families and dependants in this regard.

• Providing care, counselling and support to the aged.

• Providing training to the unemployed in order to empower them to find or create employment.

• Providing the means for basic needs (such as food and shelter) in times of crisis to those who cannot help themselves.

• Caring for, protecting, counselling and educating street children and other abused and neglected children.

• Furnishing capacity-building services to Beneficiary Communities, including but not limited to services aimed at facilitating organisational development and the acquisition of appropriate skills.

• Combating starvation with food garden projects.

• Forming alliances and partnerships with like-minded secular and faith-based organisations with aims and objects which are the same as or similar to the Object of the Trust.