A project aimed at teaching crafts to youths from Sir Lowry’s Pass and Chris Nissen Park is fast making a positive difference in these communities.
The Hey Help Woman project, a partnership between the City of Cape Town and provincial government, was launched last November. It aims to teach young people from these areas the skill of creating crafts from concrete and is made possible through the Community Development Worker (CDC) Programme.
The national programme sees community members trained in different economic skills to afford them an opportunity to engage in sustainable economic activities and facilitate a more constructive relationship between community and government, by creating awareness of government services and providing government with insight into community needs.
The programme is bearing fruit in Sir Lowry’s Pass and Chris Nissen Park, where the appointed community development worker Claudia Britz identified lack of skills and unemployment, especially among women, as a concern and approached City officials to assist.
Since its launch, the Hey Help Woman provided participants with skills to make crafts such as decorative garden pots from cement, as well as entrepreneurial training to sell their products.
To kickstart the project, the City and provincial government allocated R90 000 to the initiative, and provided plants, sand, pebbles, soil, gardening gloves, dust masks, spades, wheelbarrows, cement, concrete dye and paint. The 13 young people were also assisted in developing a business plan to help them seek private investment, and the community liaison officer is currently assisting to build networks with local craft markets where they could possible sell their crafty creations.
The training was facilitated by two local community members, who wished to transfer their skills, noting the increase in poverty in the community. “Although this is a relatively small scale project, it has been designed to empower participants far into the future,” said Grant Twigg, Mayoral Committee member for Urban Waste Management. “Residents, who were previously reliant on government grants, now have their own income stream as well to help support their families.
“Based on the success of this project, there is definitely potential to provide similar training in other communities who are interested in exploring such opportunities. They should please engage the community development workers operating in their areas.”
Details of the ward’s allocated CDW officials can be obtained from the local subcouncil office.
. Helderberg residents or businesses interested in purchasing the products created by the local women can phone Claudia Britz on WhatsApp on 076 701 2109 or phone 083 445 4489.
