Mama’s making a difference to build sustainable communities

Building sustainable communities has become a fundamental part in driving economic transformation in South Africa, which is critical to ensuring that communities across South Africa thrive. A task impossible to achieve without a collaborative partnership between both corporates and local communities.

Clover Mama Afrika, identifies and empowers women within disadvantaged communities, who go beyond the call of duty by caring for the vulnerable, children and the elderly, with much needed skills to help them become a more sustainable resource to their communities.

The Clover Mama Afrika initiative truly believes in the concept of “give a mama some food and she will feed her community for a day, but teach a mama a skill and she will serve her community for a lifetime.”

Many of the mama’s under the Clover Mama Afrika initiative have amazing and inspiring stories. Mama Thokozile Ndlovu from the Vukani Traditional Centre is one of these amazing women. She was Chief until her son came of age to become the chief but she is still responsible for an area of 6500 hectares, which covers 11 schools in Ofafa Village; Ixopo; Kwazulu Natal. She is also a Provincial member of the House of Traditional Leaders representing the Sisonke district.

Mama Thokozile has a farming project at her centre which includes a piggery and a poultry farm and through her passion for farming, she has been able to employ two local women – a true example of empowering and upskilling her community. Not only is Mama Thokozile passionate about farming, but she is an advocate for women empowerment.

Through the farming project, Mama Thokozile is able to supply pork and chicken to the local community as well as to local school feeding schemes. Children often come to her farm on educational tours, to learn more about farming and how to treat the livestock as well as how to maintain their environment.

Mama Thokozile explains, “It is so important for me to empower women, teaching them to become self-sufficient and to assist in alleviating poverty in my village. God gave you eyes, ears, a mouth, a brain and hands – use them wisely and you will succeed.”

Founder of Clover Mama Afrika, Professor Elain Vlok explains, “By supporting the empowerment of women and their self-help projects, we advance the sustainability of their communities. Each mama is committed to becoming sustainable and manages their self-help projects appropriately and ensures that the members in their care are the true beneficiaries.”

In order for communities to be sustainable it is important to create good jobs which are key to the success for the people of South Africa. These goals can be achieved by individuals who work hard to create jobs for other people in need.

Another wonderful example is Mama Doris Ndingane, who is well known for her dynamic character. She manages a nursery school as well as various self-help projects in Keiskammahoek, Eastern Cape, where she is able to empower her community members with practical skills and an income.

Mama Doris saw that there was a great lack of employment opportunities and was inspired to start her self-help projects to help increase the level of employment within her community, where these individuals are now better able to help support their families. Some of the sustainable projects include sowing, vegetable plantations and running a poultry farm. Mama Doris says, “Clover Mama Afrika has really helped me a lot, today I am able to help build better lives in my community”.

Giving back to her community also gives her great joy. “There is no time to waste – every day brings new opportunities!” Mama Doris adds.