Pilda Modjadji is a founding member of the Pankop Women Farmers Forum in Mpumalanga, South Africa.
The Pankop group, which now has 300 members, started with the humble goal of growing fruit collectively and using the proceeds to supplement family diets, raise incomes and pay school tuition fees. But the women quickly realized that the village offered few job prospects for graduates — their children were going off to the cities. Determined to create an alternative source of employment in the village, the women, with the agreement and support of traditional chiefs and municipal authorities, set up a fruit and vegetable dehydration plant.
The women’s plans were ambitious, and they felt that old-style microcredit loans — which usually range between $20 and $300 — were not enough. The Pankop group needed the equivalent of $100,000. They got the funds from local commercial banks because Thembani International Guarantee Fund, a South African organization created in 1996 by the US non-profit Shared Interest and the Swiss-based Recherches et Applications de Financements Alternatifs au Développement (RAFAD), put up $70,000 in loan guarantees. Such guarantees provide banks with an assurance that the guarantor will assume part of the losses if a default occurs.
With that first loan, the women in Mpumalanga converted an old school dormitory into a functioning plant. The project initially hired 65 young people. Then, with a second loan of $120,000, also guaranteed by Thembani, they increased the number of employees to 200, working in shifts. Their latest loan is worth about $1 mn, with $800,000 of it guaranteed by Thembani. With those funds, the women plan to meet European Union health and safety standards and start exporting their produce.
Showing posts with label africa. Show all posts
Showing posts with label africa. Show all posts
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Friday, January 16, 2009
MTN to invest R15M in skills development
Mobile giant,MTN has invested R15-million in a skills development programme, which will officially be launched in February this year and aims to facilitate job creation, skills development and the upskilling of young graduates
entering the telecommunications sector. The initial investment of R15-million will be spent over a two-year period.
It will identify 83 prospective graduates for the first year in the fields of engineering, finance, logistics and information technology, the ‘core’ fields for the MTN group. The graduates will be managed not only by the human resources department, but also by MTN’s line managers.
The bursary programme will target 30 of the top high school achievers who are entering a tertiary institution to further studies in the fields of engineering and finance.
Stresses that the responsibility of investing in skills development is not that of government alone, but that both the private and public sectors must play a significant role in human resource development.
Through such investments, MTN will not face a skills challenge in the next ten years. South Africa could still be reeling from a skills shortage in the next ten years, if the necessary steps are not taken. Executive research firm Landelahni Busi-ness Leaders has forecast that the skills shortage could last for at least the next decade.
This is not just an investment for MTN, but also for the betterment of South Africa and the continent.
It will identify 83 prospective graduates for the first year in the fields of engineering, finance, logistics and information technology, the ‘core’ fields for the MTN group. The graduates will be managed not only by the human resources department, but also by MTN’s line managers.
The bursary programme will target 30 of the top high school achievers who are entering a tertiary institution to further studies in the fields of engineering and finance.
Stresses that the responsibility of investing in skills development is not that of government alone, but that both the private and public sectors must play a significant role in human resource development.
Through such investments, MTN will not face a skills challenge in the next ten years. South Africa could still be reeling from a skills shortage in the next ten years, if the necessary steps are not taken. Executive research firm Landelahni Busi-ness Leaders has forecast that the skills shortage could last for at least the next decade.
This is not just an investment for MTN, but also for the betterment of South Africa and the continent.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Killing of endangered Rhinos in Africa
I am spitting angry.
In 1995 a conference was held and attended by TCM delegates from the Far East, as well as academics, government officials, and conservationists. The meeting indicated that there are strong cultural attachments to the merits of TCM(traditional chinese medicine). Some practitioners felt that the West maligns TCM and should not seek to legislate moral or health-care choices in the East.
Its the last part that makes me angry.Really?when one of the beliefs of TCM is the use of rhino horn to treat life-threatening fevers. And also as an aphrodisiac apparently.The amount of stuff in the world that is apparently an aphrodisiac.Why the need for so much aphrodisiac?Why not start looking internally for the cause of this problem.Yes the answer to the world's problem is definitely educating people.But if some nations are proud of their link and hold on traditional beliefs how do you do it?
So in answer to the West should not seek to legislate moral or health care choices in the East let me give you an answer from Africa.We will interfere in your outdated health care choices if it means you come to destroy our continent in order to fulfil your traditions and beliefs.Try and get your health care beliefs based on ingredients from your own continent.
See below for news reels on today January 15 2009.
Another two rhino deaths in Mpumalanga have been reported but not confirmed - some game reserves are reluctant to comment on such killings. If the figure is correct it would put the unofficial death toll of rhinos poached in South Africa since January last year at 96. The dead animals include critically endangered black rhinos.
In many cases Mozambicans, allegedly employed by Vietnamese syndicates operating out of South Africa, are the prime suspects. The syndicates are said to provide their local recruits with high-calibre weapons. Crossbows are also used because they are silent.
Three men were arrested on Wednesday for possession of four rhino horns, Mpumalanga police said.
"The men, aged 33, 43 and 46, were being monitored by police for a while," said spokesperson Malcolm Mokomeni.
They were arrested at Bruma Lake in Gauteng, near Cyrildene during a joint operation by Mpumalanga police, the Gauteng provincial task team and the SA National Parks Unit.
The men are thought to be Chinese nationals.
"Besides the four horns, they were also found with R16 000 cash. We are not sure if they live in South Africa, or if they are from another country...they are being very stubborn and just wont talk to police when they are asked these kind of questions."
He said police believe the horns were to be smuggled into China for certain business deals.
"There is a lot of money to be made from rhino horns," he said.
More arrests were to be made.
The men were being held and would appear in court soon.
The name of the court could not be disclosed in case investigations were jeopardised, Mokomeni said. - Sapa
In 1995 a conference was held and attended by TCM delegates from the Far East, as well as academics, government officials, and conservationists. The meeting indicated that there are strong cultural attachments to the merits of TCM(traditional chinese medicine). Some practitioners felt that the West maligns TCM and should not seek to legislate moral or health-care choices in the East.
Its the last part that makes me angry.Really?when one of the beliefs of TCM is the use of rhino horn to treat life-threatening fevers. And also as an aphrodisiac apparently.The amount of stuff in the world that is apparently an aphrodisiac.Why the need for so much aphrodisiac?Why not start looking internally for the cause of this problem.Yes the answer to the world's problem is definitely educating people.But if some nations are proud of their link and hold on traditional beliefs how do you do it?
So in answer to the West should not seek to legislate moral or health care choices in the East let me give you an answer from Africa.We will interfere in your outdated health care choices if it means you come to destroy our continent in order to fulfil your traditions and beliefs.Try and get your health care beliefs based on ingredients from your own continent.
See below for news reels on today January 15 2009.
Another two rhino deaths in Mpumalanga have been reported but not confirmed - some game reserves are reluctant to comment on such killings. If the figure is correct it would put the unofficial death toll of rhinos poached in South Africa since January last year at 96. The dead animals include critically endangered black rhinos.
In many cases Mozambicans, allegedly employed by Vietnamese syndicates operating out of South Africa, are the prime suspects. The syndicates are said to provide their local recruits with high-calibre weapons. Crossbows are also used because they are silent.
Three men were arrested on Wednesday for possession of four rhino horns, Mpumalanga police said.
"The men, aged 33, 43 and 46, were being monitored by police for a while," said spokesperson Malcolm Mokomeni.
They were arrested at Bruma Lake in Gauteng, near Cyrildene during a joint operation by Mpumalanga police, the Gauteng provincial task team and the SA National Parks Unit.
The men are thought to be Chinese nationals.
"Besides the four horns, they were also found with R16 000 cash. We are not sure if they live in South Africa, or if they are from another country...they are being very stubborn and just wont talk to police when they are asked these kind of questions."
He said police believe the horns were to be smuggled into China for certain business deals.
"There is a lot of money to be made from rhino horns," he said.
More arrests were to be made.
The men were being held and would appear in court soon.
The name of the court could not be disclosed in case investigations were jeopardised, Mokomeni said. - Sapa
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Good or bad news for Africa??
Obviously coming from Africa I believe there should be no trade on ivory at all.The fact that there is trade creates an opening for poachers who do not follow guidelines on culling and related issues.It is difficult to ascertain which of the ivory was legally obtained and which not.Until Africa can get out of this poverty the world should not tempt poverty ridden Africans into destroying our heritage so they can have money to buy food.Why not help Africa to grow our own food which we can then export?Ivory sales should be banned completely.See article below for China's "contribution" to ivory sales
China strengthens regulation on ivory consumption
BEIJING, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- China is trying to keep its ivory carving industry alive by banning any new companies from entering the market. The move, announced Friday by the State Forestry Administration (SFA), will help extend existing supplies of ivory for another 15 to 20 years.
Because there are limited amounts of the raw material, the SFA said Chinese companies can now only use no more than five tonnes of it every year.
Also included in the new regulations, is a guideline stating all ivory products must obtain official labels for trade, exhibition or export.
The SFA placed the African elephant under first-class state protection which means they can't be killed, captured or traded. The SFA also vowed to execute a national audit regarding material sand products involving the endangered species.
Ivory carving has taken place for more than 1,800 years in China. The cultural art craft faced severe material shortages after China joined the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in 1990, which banned global commercial trade of ivory.
In July 2008, China became the second approved trade partner of African ivory by CITES after Japan. China was allowed a one-time purchase of ivory from South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe, which helped to increase material supply for the ivory carving industry.
China strengthens regulation on ivory consumption
BEIJING, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- China is trying to keep its ivory carving industry alive by banning any new companies from entering the market. The move, announced Friday by the State Forestry Administration (SFA), will help extend existing supplies of ivory for another 15 to 20 years.
Because there are limited amounts of the raw material, the SFA said Chinese companies can now only use no more than five tonnes of it every year.
Also included in the new regulations, is a guideline stating all ivory products must obtain official labels for trade, exhibition or export.
The SFA placed the African elephant under first-class state protection which means they can't be killed, captured or traded. The SFA also vowed to execute a national audit regarding material sand products involving the endangered species.
Ivory carving has taken place for more than 1,800 years in China. The cultural art craft faced severe material shortages after China joined the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in 1990, which banned global commercial trade of ivory.
In July 2008, China became the second approved trade partner of African ivory by CITES after Japan. China was allowed a one-time purchase of ivory from South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe, which helped to increase material supply for the ivory carving industry.
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