Nurturing Through Nature: The socio-economic impact of Umzi Wethu on rural Eastern Cape communities

www.oxfam.org.au

Reasearch 3

The socio-economic impacT of Umzi WeThU on RURal easTeRn cape commUniTies

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Title: Research3:NurturingthroughNature:Thesocio-economicimpactofUmziWethuonrural EasternCapecommunities

published: October2015

Researcher and author: StrategicEDGESolutions

editor: CherylGoodenough

Design: LUMOdesign&illustration(www.lumo.co.za)

photos: KarlSchoemaker&AlexiaWebster

acknowledgements: QuotesfromUmziWethustaffmembersandgraduatesrepublishedinthisdocumentarefrom Case Study 16: An Extraordinary Journey: Umzi Wethu Training Academy for Vulnerable Youthand Case Study 19: The Journey Continues: Umzi Wethu Training Academy for Vulnerable Youth byAlexaSchoofMarketos.

copyright: Oxfamgivespermissionforexcerptsfromthisbooktobephotocopiedorreproduced providedthatthesourceisclearlyandproperlyacknowledged.

Disclaimer: Theviewsinthispublicationarethoseoftherespectiveauthorsanddonotnecessarilyrepresent thoseofOxfamoranyfundingagency.Theinterviewandreviewprocesswasparticipatoryand consentaroundcontentandinclusionofpersonalinformationwasgiventoOxfambyinterviewees. Oxfamextendsitsthankstoallwhocontributedtothisdocument.

contact Details: oxfam aUsTRalia WilDeRness foUnDaTion 132LeicesterStreet EasternProvinceChild&YouthCareCentre Carlton3053 CornerLennoxandConynghamRoad, Victoria, Glendinningvale,PortElizabeth, Australia SouthAfrica +61392894444 +27(0)413740746 [email protected] [email protected]

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IntroductIon 04

context 06

StudentS:recruItment,SelectIonandPlacement 10

SocIo-economIcImPactStudyoftheumzIWethutraInIngacademy 14

thegraduateS 16

SocIo-economIcImPactS:educatIon 18

SocIo-economIcImPactS:healthandWellneSS 19

SocIo-economIcImPactS:Income 21

recommendatIonS 26

concluSIon 30

luthando sithole UMZIWETHUGRADUATEANDCOMMISCHEFATSPIER

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umziWethu,aprogrammeconceptualised,managedandimplementedbytheWildernessfoundation,isactivelyusingbiodiversityconservationasabasisforeducatingandnurturingyoungpeople.theprogrammeseeks“tofulfiltheemployabilitypotentialofresilient,motivatedyouthdisplacedbyhIVandaIdSandpovertybyusingthepowerofthewilderness,promotingpersonalwellnessinanurturinghomecontext,providingcredibletraining,andsecuringsustainablejobplacementsinhospitalityandeco-tourismenvironments–whileextendingtheprogramme’ssocialoutreachtoothers”.1

Theimplicitimpactoftheprogrammeisevident:Youngpeoplehavegraduatedfromtheprogrammewithincreasedskillsandknowledge,aswellaswithincreasedlevelsofself-worthandappreciationfornature.

Thisstudyseekstodetermineanddocumentthesocio-economicimpactoftheUmziWethuprogramme,whichusesnatureasabasistonurture,educateandpreparefortheemploymentofyoung,vulnerablepeople.

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1.www.umziwethu.org

theumziWethuprogrammeoperatesintheeasterncape,whichisSouthafrica’sthirdlargestprovinceintermsofpopulationandsecondlargestintermsofgeographiccover.2

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popUlaTion About6.7millionpeople12.6%ofthepopulationofSouthAfrica

langUages isiXhosa(spokenby79%ofthepopulation)Afrikaans(11%)English(6%)

hiV sTaTUs SlightlyfewerpeopleinfectedwithHIVintheEasternCapethantheproportionoftheSouthAfricanpopulationthatisinfected.ThenationalproportionofpeopleinfectedwithHIVisbeginningtodeclineslowly,buttheproportionintheEasternCapeisslowlyincreasing.EstimateddeathsasaresultofHIVandAIDShaveincreasedslowlyintheEasternCapeandSouthAfrica.

eDUcaTion 30%ofthepopulationhadamatric-levelorhighereducationin2013,comparedtothenationalnormof39%.

poVeRTy TherateofpovertyintheEasternCapeandSouthAfricaisdeclining.MorethanhalfofthepopulationintheEasternCapelivesbelowthepovertyline.3

income TheaverageannualincomeperpersonintheEasternCapein2013wasjustlessthanR30,000.ThisissignificantlylowerthanthenationalaverageofapproximatelyR44,800.

2.StatisticsinthissectionwerecalculatedbyStrategicEDGESolutionsbasedoninformationobtainedfromIHSGlobalInsight’sRegionaleXplorer

database.Formoreinformationseewww.ihsglobalinsight.co.za.

3.ThepovertylineinSouthAfricahasbeendefinedbyNationalTreasuryastheline“belowwhichpeoplecanaffordanadequatedietbutwouldhaveto

sacrificefoodtopurchasenon-fooditems”.

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TherehasbeenasignificantincreaseintheunemploymentrateintheEasternCape;morethantheincreaseexperiencednationally.IntheEasternCapeabout70%oftheeconomicallyactivepopulationearnanincome.Thisresultsinahighpercentageofpeoplewithlimitedornoincome-earningpotentialwhoaredependentontheeconomicallyactivepopulation.

ThetourismindustryisimportanttotheEasternCape,withapproximately19,9milliontouristsvisitingtheprovincein2013.Ofthese,2,6millionwereinternationaltourists.

Tourismmakesameaningful,albeitsmall,contributiontothegrossdomesticproductintheEasternCape.Theaveragespendpertouristperresidentcapitaintheprovincein2013wasR1,979.ThistranslatesintoR13,2billioninjectedintotheEasternCapeeconomyasaresultoftourism.4

The17state-ownednaturereservesandparksandatleastasmanyprivategamereservesintheprovinceareadrawcardfortourists,withalmosthalfvisitinggamereserveswhilevisitingtheEasternCape.

4.DepartmentofTourism.2014.Tourism Annual Report 2013/14

Miselwa nogqala UMZIWETHUGRADUATE,2011,PORTELIZAbETH

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umziWethurecruitsstudentsfromaboutadozentownshipslocatedaroundPortelizabethandSomerseteast.theseareregardedastheurbanandruralinformalsettlementsthatarethemostpoorandvulnerabletothespreadofhIVandaIdS.areasaretargetedduetotheircloseproximitytotourismandhospitalityestablishments,gamereservesandparks,withtheaimbeingtoincreasethelikelihoodofstudentemploymentaftergraduation.

UmziWethustrivestoachieveabalanceoffemaleandmalestudents.

TheUmziWethuapproachtoselectionisyouth-centred,whilealsorecognisingtheneedsoftheemployer,andinvolvespartnershipswithcommunity-basedorganisationsandlocalgovernmentagencies.

Selectioncriteriainclude:• Socio-economicvulnerability• Personalreferencesfromkeyrole-playersinapplicants’lives• Numeracyandliteracyskillstestbatteryscoresdemonstratingcompetencyandlearningpotential(aptitude) andcompletionofGrade12• Englishlanguageproficiency• Testresultsshowingdrug-free• Motivation,attitudeandcopingstyleascertainedthroughinterviews• Acceptableschoolattendanceandachievementrecords• Commitmenttoconservationvalues,asdemonstratedonthree-day,pre-selectionwildernesstrails.

Theageforselectionforthehospitalityprogrammeisfrom18to25years,and21to26yearsforthefieldrangingprogramme.Thelatteragebracketishigherbecauseoftheminimumageof21yearsforobtainingthedrivers’licencerequiredbyfieldguides.

Priortojoiningtheprogramme,UmziWethustudentstypicallylivewithasinglemotherorgrandparent,orhavebeenadopted.AtleasthalfareAIDSorphansandmanyhavelostparentsorotherfamilymembers.TheyareallfrompreviouslydisadvantagedbackgroundsandaresociallyvulnerableduetotheimpactofHIVandAIDSthroughdeathandillness.Thereissomedegreeofexposuretopoverty,crime,gangs,substanceabuseorothersocialproblems,whichputsthematrisk.

Sincetheproject’sinceptionin2005,therehavebeen13intakescomprisingofatotalof210studentswhohavegraduatedthroughtheUmziWethuprogramme.Manyofthegraduateswerethefirstmembersoftheirfamiliestoachieveapost-matriceducation.

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ThequalificationsofUmziWethustudentsaremarketedtopotentialemployersbyWildernessFoundationstaff.TheprogrammestrivestoremainresponsivetotheneedsofemployersandtobeadaptabletotheEasternCapejobmarket.Asaresult,someUmziWethugraduateshavebeenhiredaspaidinterns,ratherthanasfull-timeemployees.Theemploymentrateofstudentshasbeenbetween80%and90%.

About10%ofgraduateshaveadvancedtojuniorandmiddlemanagementpositionsineco-tourismindustries,andsevenweregrantedopportunitiestopursuetertiaryeducation.

ThesuccessoftheUmziWethumodelisevidentinitsreplicationbytheSustainabilityInstituteinCapeTown.ThissawninechefsgraduateinStellenboschinSeptember2012,andallgainemployment.

Post-Graduate suPPort

AftertheUmziWethustudentsgraduate,theWildernessFoundationstaffcontinuetoprovideassistance.Withtheconservationgraduates,theofficialassistanceincludes:• TheirregistrationwiththeDepartmentofEnvironmentalAffairs• Preparationoftheircurriculumvitae• Activeemploymentrecruitmentandplacementwithindustrypartnersandotherpotentialemployers• Activeworkinginternshiprecruitmentandplacementwithindustrypartnersandotherpotentialemployers.

Inreality,thepost-graduationassistanceprovidedbytheWildernessFoundationfarexceedsthedefinedparametersofaftercareandsupport.Somegraduatescontinuetobeprovidedwithahome,andothersseekguidanceforpersonalorprofessionalissues,includingcareerdevelopment,personalandprofessionalrelationshipsandhealth-relatedissues.

ThemajorityofgraduatesinterviewedstatedthattheycontinuedtosharetheirsuccessesandtrialswithWildernessFoundationstaffandtookcomfortinknowingthattheyhadanoutletfordiscussingpersonalandprofessionalissues.

khayiswa weM UMZIWETHUGRADUATEANDCOMMISCHEFATSPIER

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thisstudyconsideredthesocio-economicimpactoftheumziWethutrainingacademyongraduatesandruralcommunitiesintheeasterncape.Incarryingouttheresearch,aseriesofpersonalstructuredinterviewswereconductedwithaselectedsampleofumziWethuhospitalityandconservationgraduatesspanningovertheyearssincetheinceptionoftheprogramme.theinterviewswithgraduatesweresupplementedwithpersonalstructuredinterviewswithrepresentativesoftheWildernessfoundation.

Threesocio-economicindicatorswereselectedtoassesstheimpactofUmziWethu:

1. eDUcaTion: Thestudysoughttodetermine: a. Whetherfurthereducationandtrainingwasundertakenand/orcompletedbyUmziWethugraduatesandthe degreetowhichUmziWethuwaspivotalinencouragingand/orenablingfurthereducationandtraining;and b. Theextenttowhichfamilyand/orcommunitymembersweredependentonaportionofincome(pastor current)earnedbygraduatestofundbasicand/orfurthereducationandtraining. c. Whethergraduatesundertookfurthereducationinhospitalityorfieldranging,oriftheyoptedforalternate educationandtraining.

2. healTh anD Wellness: Thestudysoughtto: a. Identifyaspectsoftheprogramme,relatedtohealthandwellness,whichweresharedwithmembersof thegraduate’sfamilyand/orcommunity;and b. Determinetheopinionofthegraduateofthisknowledgeonageneralimprovementinhealthandwellness ofthefamilyand/orcommunitymembers.

Emphasiswasplacedonissuesrelatedtoincreasingproductivityasaresultofdecreasedabsenteeismfromwork and/oreducation.

3. income: Thestudyconsideredtheextentofthegraduates’incomespentinthelocaleconomyfromwhichthegraduate emanates.Inaddition,itsoughttodeterminetheindirecteconomicimpactofthisspendingonthelocaleconomy andtheresultantincreaseindisposableincomecirculatinginthelocaleconomy.

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The gRaDUaTes

Themajorityofthegraduates(71.4%)whowereinterviewedforthisstudyhadcompletedtraininginconservation.Thiswasasaresultoftheavailabilityofgraduatesforinterviews.

Thegraduateswereofanaverageageof26yearsoldandhadbeenworkingforthreeyearsonaverage.ThelargestpopulationofstudentsoriginatedfromsettlementslocatedwithintheSarahbaartman(previouslyCacadu)DistrictMunicipality,withtheexceptionofCradockandQueenstown.

Allgraduatesoriginatedfromareaswithincloseproximitytomajornationalorprovincialparksornaturereserves.

However,manyofthemhadnotinteractedwithnatureorwildlifepriortotheirtrainingwithUmziWethu.

learnIngaboutconSerVatIon

Graduatesdescribedinitiallybeingfearfulofthe“wild”,lackingknowledgeabout“thisthingcalledconservation”ortheimportancethereof,andregardingeco-tourismestablishmentsassomething“whitepeoplewentto”.

Aftercompletingtheirtraininggraduateswerepassionateaboutconservationandsharedsimpleconservationtechniqueswithmembersoftheirfamiliesandcommunities.Onehadapproachedalocalhighschoolandwassharingabouttheimportanceofconservationwithlearners.

ntobeko ngcalaUMZIWETHUGRADUATE,2010,SOMERSETEAST

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socio-economic impacTs: eDUcaTion

ItwasevidentfromthisstudythatUmziWethuassistsgraduatestoprepareforfurthereducationandtraining,followingthecompletionoftheUmziWethutraining,whichotherwisemaynothavebeenaccessibleorachievable.Justlessthanhalfthegraduatesinterviewedhadconcludedorenrolledforfurthereducationandtraining,inadditiontothatprovidedbyUmziWethu.Morethanhalfofthegraduatespaidthecostofthefurthereducationandtrainingthemselves,whiletheremainderhadsecuredsponsorship,generallybyemployers.

Thetypeofeducationandtrainingundertakenbythesegraduateswasnotdirectlyrelatedtoconservationorhospitality.ThegraduateswhohadenrolledinfurtherstudystatedthatUmziWethuhadplayedapivotalroleinthemmeetingtheentryrequirementsforfurthereducationandtrainingorthepsychologicalpreparationforfurthereducationandtraining.

Mostgraduateswhohadnotembarkedonfurthereducationandtrainingcitedthelackofavailablefinanceasthereason,butexpressedadesiretoengageinfurthereducationandtraining.

“It is always on my mind that I need to get a degree. It is important to me. Next year I hope to study nature conservation through unisa.” nTobeko ngcala, Umzi WEThU gRAdUATE

Manyofthegraduatesinterviewedhadsupported,orwereintheprocessofsupporting,familymembers–oftenyoungersiblings–bypayingfortheireducation.Abouttwo-thirdsofthesupporttofamilymemberswasforoneormoreyoungersiblingstoattendprimaryschool.

Thistrendmaybeextrapolatedtoconcludethat,onaverage,foreverytwograduatesthatcompletedUmziWethutraining,atleastoneprimaryschool-goingchildissupportedintermsofhavingfinanceavailableforschoolfeesandrelatedcosts.

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socio-economic impacTs: healTh anD Wellness

ThestudyconsideredtheimpactofUmziWethuongraduatesandtheirfamiliesintermsoftheirunderstandingandtreatmentofspecifichealthandwellness-relatedissues,andtheirbehaviourintermsoftheseissues.AtUmziWethu,healthandwellnessfocusesonphysical,psychological,socialandspiritualaspects.

“Wellness allows the students to release stress, their anger, their frustrations, so that they can focus on their studies. We are able to talk to them, we have that love, that understanding, that is so important to break down their defences. We discuss vulnerability, the fact that they are at risk of such social evils as drugs, alcohol, transactional sex, domestic violence, abuse.” heinRich TeRblanche, Umzi WEThU WEllnESS And liVElihoodS CooRdinAToR

Theissuesconsideredforthisstudywere:• HIVandAIDS• Tuberculosis• Sexuallytransmitteddiseases• Pregnancy.

AllgraduatesreportedhavingabetterunderstandingofpregnancyandofthecausesandtreatmentrelatingtoHIVandAIDSandsexuallytransmitteddiseasesasaresultoftheUmziWethutraining.Allgraduates,exceptone,notedabetterunderstandingofcausesandtreatmentrelatingtotuberculosisasaresultofUmziWethu.

Allgraduateshadsharedtheirinsightsintothehealthandwellnessissueswithmembersoftheirimmediatefamilies,and,inlimitedcases,withthebroadercommunity.Onegraduateemotionallyrelatedbeing“betterable”tocareforafamilymemberinfectedwithHIVasaresultofhealth-relatededucationprovidedbyUmziWethu.

Almostallgraduatesnotedthatasaresultofthetrainingtheirpersonalhygienehadimproved,ortheywereintroducedtotheimportanceofpersonalhygieneforthefirsttime.Thelackofpersonalhygienewasattributedto:graduatesnothavingbeentaughtpersonalhygienepractices,orhavingobservedtheminthehome;nothavingthefinancialmeanstopracticebasicpersonalhygiene;ornothavingaccesstobasicsanitationinfrastructure,suchasrunningwaterandflushingtoilets.

andrew Muir UMZIWETHUFOUNDER

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Graduatesalsodescribedhavinglearnedfirstaid,aswellasbeingexposedtoanincreasedtoleranceofpeersofadifferentsexualorientationtotheirown,particularlywithinaresidentialcontext.Manynotedthattheyhadneverbeenexposedtosomeonewithasexualorientationotherthantheirown.TheinformationprovidedbyUmziWethuhadassistedthemtounderstandandappreciatesexualdiversityamongpeers.

Oneofthemostsignificantfindingsintermsofhealthandwellnessistherelativelylowrateofabsenteeismamongstgraduates.Onaverage,graduatesindicatedtheywereabsentfromworkfor0.5daysayearowingtosickness.Thisissignificantlylessthanthegeneralnationalaverageof3.1daysabsentperyearand5.1daysabsentperyearinthehospitalityindustry.5

“We are dealing with youth who are facing serious social issues. Most have lost one parent, if not both, and have therefore been through tremendous trauma. How can you train for a job until you have worked through some of the trauma, had a chance to heal some of the pain? We can’t just give them job training; we need to care for the whole individual if there is to be any real hope of them holding down a job for an extended period of time.” anDReW mUiR, Umzi WEThU foUndER

socio-economic impacTs: income

Graduatesenteredemploymentmostlyinentryorjuniorleveloccupations,notablyasinterns.TheaveragestartingsalarywasR2,260.

Atthetimeoftheresearchforthisreport,graduateswereemployedinmoreseniorpositions,withshiftsfrominternstofieldguidesandfieldrangers,orfromwaiterorhosttochef.

5.Netshidzati,H.2012.Employee Absenteeism and the managers’ Perceptions of its Causes in gauteng, South Africa.Submittedinfulfilmentofthe

requirementsforthedegreeMagisterTechnologiae:TourismandHospitalityManagement,TshwaneUniversity.

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Source: Personal interviews with Umzi Wethu graduates (may - June 2014)

Source: Personal interviews with Umzi Wethu graduates (may - June 2014)

generalWorker

environmentalmonitor

generalWorker

host

host

chef

chef

marineguide

marineguide

Waiter

Waiter

Intern

Intern

marinemonitor

marinemonitor

0.0%

0.0%

10.0%

10.0%

5.0%

5.0%

40.0%

25.0%

30.0%

25.0%

35.0%

20.0%

20.0%

15.0%

15.0%

fieldguide

fieldguide

accountmanager

accountmanager

fieldranger

fieldranger

entryoccuPatIonSofgraduateS

currentoccuPatIonSofgraduateS

7.1% 7.1%

7.1% 7.1%

21.4% 21.4%

7.1% 7.1%

0.0%

0.0% 0.0% 0.0%

0.0%

7.1%

14.3%

35.7%

14.3%

14.3% 14.3%

7.1% 7.1%

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ThepaceatwhichUmziWethugraduateswerepromotedwithinandbetweeninstitutionsisnoteworthy.EmployersconfirmedthisphenomenonandstatedthatUmziWethugraduatesprogressedtoseniorand/orsupervisoryrolesfasterthanotheremployees.Theyattributedthistothegraduates’vocationalknowledgeandskills,confidenceandleadershipabilities.

“I never thought that students with the level of vulnerability we were dealing with could become managers. It is the emotional and financial gains of long-term employment which ultimately reverse their vulnerability. at the Holiday Inn there is an umzi student who did the hard graft and he was able to rise up through the kitchen to be second chef. He is an incredible chef. We can’t afford to employ him! that’s not umzi, that’s him. We just gave the hand up.” anDReW mUiR, Umzi WEThU foUndER

Atthetimeofthisresearch,theaveragesalaryofthegraduateswasR4,785,whichtranslatesintoanaveragerealincrease(thatis,adjustedforinflation)of38%perannum.ThisissignificantlyhigherthantheaverageannualsalaryincreaseinSouthAfricaofapproximately7.2%perannum.6

Itisunrealistictoexpectthisrateofaverageannualincreasetocontinueforallgraduatesthroughouttheircareers,butitisimportanttonotethatintheshorttomediumterm,UmziWethuhasplayedapivotalroleinassistingtoimprovetheincomeparityofpreviouslydisadvantagedindividuals.Theincomelevelsofthegraduateshaveacceleratedexponentiallyenablingthemtoreachasalaryscalethatmayhavebeenpossibleiftheywerenotpreviouslydisadvantaged.

Theincomeearnedbythegraduatesisofteninjectedintoruralcommunities,withapproximately45%ofthegraduates’incomebeingspentintheruralcommunitiesfromwhichtheyoriginate.Graduateswhochooseorareabletoresideintheareafromwhichtheyoriginatewhenemployedtypicallyspendabout73%inthatarea.Graduatesnotlivingintheareafromwhichtheyoriginatewhenemployedsendanaverageof17%oftheirincomebacktofamilymemberswhostillresideinthoseareas.

6.StatisticscalculatedbyStrategicEDGESolutionsbasedoninformationobtainedfromIHSGlobalInsight’sRegionaleXplorerdatabase.Formore

informationseewww.ihsglobalinsight.co.za.

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Mantho sehapi (LEFT)UMZIWETHUGRADUATE,2010,PORTELIZAbETH

pontso tsatsi MANTHO’SMOTHER

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Theexpenditureinruralareasresultsintwomainsocio-economicimpacts7:1. Onaverage,graduatessupportanestimatedsixfamilymembers.Thisishigherthantheaveragedependencyrate oftheEasternCape(3.8)andthecountry(3.1).2. Increasedincomeinruralcommunitiestypicallyhasanincreasedmultipliereffectof0.4.Thismeansthatevery R100spentinaruralcommunitywillcreatesecondaryspendingofR40.

About74%ofthegraduatesindicatedthattheysavedaportionoftheirincome.Thisamountedtoanaverageof7.4%oftheirtotalincome,whichissignificantlyhigherthanthenationalaverageof16.5%ofyoungpeople(betweentheagesof18and30years)whoactivelysavelessthan5%oftheirtotalincome.8

“I had a dream to come home at Christmas pushing three trolleys of goodies. I worked and saved towards this, and I was able to buy a washing machine, a microwave, crockery and a wardrobe for my mother.” manTho sehapi, Umzi WEThU gRAdUATE

Withregardtoexpenditure,approximately70%ofgraduateswerefinancingeducationforthemselvesorfamilymembers.Health-relatedexpenditurewasgenerallyformedicalexpenses,usuallyover-the-countermedication,forfamilymembers.

AllgraduatesindicatedthatUmziWethuhadassistedthemtobetterunderstandfinanceandtheimportanceoffinancialmanagement.Manyattributedtheweeklyallowancereceivedinresidencesasthemechanismthathadthemostimpactinteachingthemtomanagetheirmoney.

“My family is very grateful to umzi Wethu. I am doing something very different, and they have been impressed with how professional my job is. I have been able to buy my own car, and now I hope to buy a house. umzi taught me not to live in debt, so I am saving every day.” nTobeko ngcala, Umzi WEThU gRAdUATE

7.StatisticscalculatedbyStrategicEDGESolutionsbasedoninformationobtainedfromIHSGlobalInsight’sRegionaleXplorerdatabase.Formore

informationseewww.ihsglobalinsight.co.za.

8.NationalaveragestatisticscalculatedbyStrategicEDGESolutionsbasedoninformationobtainedfromIHSGlobalInsight’sRegionaleXplorer

database.Formoreinformationseewww.ihsglobalinsight.co.za.

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FurtHer researCH

ValuableinformationwouldbegainedfromfurtherresearchintotwoaspectsoftheUmziWethuprogramme.Firstly,thepost-graduationassistanceprovidedtograduates.TheWildernessFoundationfillsafamilyvoidformanyofthegraduateswhogenerallydonothaverolemodelstolookuptoorfamilyleaderswithwhomtodiscussmajordecisionsasthesegraduatesoftenassumetheroleofheadofthefamily.

Secondly,researchintothepositivepsychosocialimpactsoftheresidentialcomponentoftheUmziWethuprogrammewouldbeuseful.TheresidentialcomponentdifferentiatesUmziWethufrommostfurthereducationandtrainingopportunitiesforyoungpeople,andvulnerableyoungpeople,inparticular.Itisanaspectthatmaybeundervaluedintermsofitsimpactonpersonalgrowthanddevelopment.

Whenconductinganyfurtherresearch,itmustbementionedthatconsiderationshouldbegiventothegraduatesselectedforinclusioninfuturestudies.Somegraduates’managersnotedthesamegraduateswereselectedandthatthiscreateddisruptionstotheirwork.Graduatesmayalsoexperience‘studyfatigue’asaresultofbeingposedthesameorsimilarquestions.

theImPactofthereSIdentIalcomPonent

Speaking about senior housemother, ntombi Kungwayo, 2011 graduate, miselwa nogqala said: “mama ntombi gave us the warmth and care we needed. i love her as my mother. She taught me to take a stand. Because of her, in part…i am a manager. She taught me to be tough…living in a residence, eighteen of us in one house, with different personalities, different backgrounds, it was tough. But we learnt how to compromise. it taught me to understand and connect with other people because in this country many of us don’t trust each other.”

ntombi Kungwayo believes the role of housemother is fundamental in the transformation of the students. “Some have no parents, or parents who abandoned them. Some have to look after their younger sisters and brothers, and others are looking after their own children. most had to be adults before they could be children. for us to give them motherly love is a huge thing. it is how they can grow again. They now have somebody taking care of them, listening to them, believing in them. This is so important, and it is what makes Umzi Wethu so genuine and wholesome.”

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CoNtINued MoNItorING oF Graduates

Thecontinuedmonitoringofgraduatesoverfiveyears(ormore)wouldbevaluable.Itwouldrequireadditionalresources,buttheinsightsthatwouldbeobtainedthroughthismonitoringwouldspeaktothesolidfoundationoftheprogrammeandthecalibreofgraduates.

InadditiontodemonstratingthevalueoftheUmziWethuprogrammetopotentialfunders,throughthismonitoring,UmziWethuwouldbeabletogaugethelong-termsocio-economicimpactoftheprogrammeongraduates,theirfamiliesandtheircommunities.Thecontinuedsocio-economicimpactoftheprogrammewouldbereiteratedbyextendedmonitoring.

rePlICatIoN oF tHe uMzI WetHu Model

TheUmziWethumodel,withtheresidentialcomponentasacrucialelement,warrantsreplication.Itshouldbeconsideredabenchmarkinhospitalityandfield-guidingvocationaltraining.Assuch,governmentandtheprivatesectorshouldworktogethertoincreasethefootprintandrelatedimpactoftheprogramme.Governmentshouldprovidefundingandotherrelatedsupport,suchastheprovisionoffacilitiesandequipment.Theprivatesectorshouldprovideincreasedworkopportunitiesforgraduates.

Fromanationalgovernmentperspective,thereplicationoftheUmziWethumodelshouldbeconsideredinallprovinces,and,inparticular,inprovincessuchasLimpopoandtheNorthWest,wherefacilitiesandopportunitiesrelatedtonature-basedtourismareprevalent.

ThereplicationoftheUmziWethumodelisinalignmentwiththenationalgovernment’sdomestic Tourism growth StrategyandStrategy for growth in international Tourism to South Africa,bothofwhichprojectgrowthinnature-basedtourism.

Failingthis,relevantprovincialgovernmentdepartments,suchasEconomicDevelopment,shouldconsiderthereplicationofthemodelinprovinceswhereUmziWethucurrentlydoesnotoperate.IntheprovinceswhereUmziWethudoescurrentlyoperateprovincialgovernmentshouldconsidertheexpansionoftheprogramme.

at a very simple level, the project transforms young people from among the most impoverished and disadvantaged sector of society into effective, independent citizens. these individuals will serve as examples of opportunity and hope to their own families and to the communities from which they came. By proving that highly vulnerable and disadvantaged youth of today can become leaders of tomorrow. umzi Wethu sends a powerful message.

Rolex aWaRDs foR enTeRpRise

heinrich terblancheUMZIWETHUWELLNESSANDLIVELIHOODSCOORDINATOR

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youthtrainingschemesexistinSouthafrica,butthesearegenerallylimitedtothetransferoftechnicalskillsorlifeskillsdevelopment.fewprogrammesprovideaholisticapproachthataugmentsrelevantskillstrainingwithlifeskillsandwellnesssupport,whichisespeciallybeneficialforyouthwhohavebeenmadevulnerablebyaninheriteddisparity,povertyandthehIVandaIdScrisis.

Thesignificantsocio-economicimpactoftheUmziWethumodelisbeyonddoubt.Theprogrammehasbroughtaboutpositivesocio-economicdevelopmentwithinruralcommunitiesintheEasternCape.Ithasresultedinincreasedlevelsofeducationandtrainingandcirculationofincomewithinruralregions,youthemploymentandthegeneralimprovementofthesocio-economicstatusofruralcommunities.

Theprogrammewarrantsfurtherresearch,but,mostimportantly,replicationtoensurethatothercommunitiesintheEasternCapeandotherprovincescanalsobenefit.

Inconclusion,thewordsofWildernessFoundationprogrammemanagerTaniaPlakonourisprovideafittingsummaryofthephilosophybehindUmziWethu’sholisticapproach:

the team at the Wilderness Foundation want the youth of today to get the best possible outlook they possibly can – personally, financially and in their career. our key purpose is to improve the quality of human life. We want to create awareness and advocacy of nature and the environment rather than just being another skills training programme. Members of the Wilderness Foundation’s youth development team see the positive change the students go through while they are on the course. It gives us hope that the young people of south africa have bright futures.

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raz-lee hector UMZIWETHUGRADUATEANDCOMMISCHEFATSPIER

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