GJCBC with W.A.R.D (kzn) Activation Trip for Mkanyakude District

Date: 31 July – 02 August 2019
Workshop Speaker : P.N Gamede ( GJCBC )

Day 1 of activation: manufacturing demonstration

Exploring the rawness of one's province is beyond beautiful and eye opening, it is similar to seeing
a woman with no make-up on, in fewer words it is breathtakingly imperfect. The genuine awe of
driving through Zululand and observing the beauty of the natural fauna and flora can really put you
on tourist mode. My tourist mode switch started to flicker when the reality of why I was taking a
two night trip away. The G.J.C.B.C (Global Joint Council Of Business Communities) had recently
partnered with W.A.R.D ( Women In Agriculture and Rural Development) to drive the agenda of
rural development, so instead of game drives I was instead driven to a few days of manufacturing
demonstrations, workshop seminars and coming heads on with pit toilets that were close to
overflowing. I was about to be involved in a less glamorous visit, one that reflected on the harsh
reality of poverty and a desperate need of development, but most importantly meeting the
community members who wanted to create the change. The amazing team I am apart of within
GJCBC alongside W.A.R.D were going to bring forward not just guidance to how the people could
develop themselves but also provide live problem solving solutions to their current nose turning pit
toilet problem.
The first day was spent involved in a reflective workshop with the traditional leaders ( Indunas )
of the area alongside executive members of W.A.R.D and PEC members. Development is a
gruelling process, and the points delivered were highly unfiltered and true because they bluntly
analysed why progression in rural development was not moving in a promising direction.
• Below are a few points that were quoted from the workshop's guest speaker Ms PN Gamede. She is
a rural development and business consultant expert who had spent over two decades studying
practical ways for rural economic development within grassroot communities to be implemented.
With her extensive knowledge backed by international studies particularly continental travel
supported observations she was successfully able to strip apart reasons for why development is not
moving in the desired direction, and plant an environment for problem observations skills and
problem solving.

• 'We need to take ownership of our problems instead of blaming others'
The speaker expressively spoke of how we shift the blame of lack of progression in our respective
communities to other people who are not directly affected instead of fully acknowledging that we
are part of the problem ourselves. Communities have the ability to create positive change
therefore we are directly at fault by default.

 'We are undermined because we undermine ourselves, we don't know our identities'
Community members within the grassroot have openly spoken about how they feel undermined by
others, and when this point was given one couldn't help but stop and reflect on how true the
statement is. With her background in community psychological studies she observe the issue. We
lack a concrete identity, rural communities are attached to the ideology of poverty and people
within them start seeing themselves as a walking example of the word turned culture, in turn this
restricts them from broadening their capabilities and thinking of themselves as being above poverty
and inadequate for success.

 ' We don't encourage our youth instead we discourage innovative ideas'
This greatly ties up with what one can call the identity crisis that is faced. The poverty mentality
shuns away innovation. Young people with in grassroot community have expressed how their respective communities do not support and encourage new ideas. The suppression of the
ideas of the youth can lead to a lack of progression while disheartening young people who have
potential to create great change. One can also look toward developed nations and how the
actively embrace their youths in terms of innovative ideas.

• ' Stop looking for luck and short cuts'
The workshop was a full day and there was a minefield of fruitful knowledge shared, however I
wanted to add this point too. The speaker beautifully narrated how the community members look
towards luck and instead of proper planning, and hard work. Sustainable growth is a long process
and shortcuts do not work when attempting to build a solid strong foundation.
We learnt that development is an action, and the organizers wanted to lead by example by actively
proving that the community can move towards solving their own problems, so after being graced
by the needed knowledge members watched how to manufacture pit toilet cleaning solutions. The
demonstration was lead by the GJCBC team and members present were able to be actively be
involved in not just manufacturing the product but also treating the pit toilets in the facility.

The problem of pit toilets being filled to the brim affects millions of South Africans,it is an
ongoing issue due to a lack of working treatment solutions to lower toilet contents and stopping
the assaulting stenches. 5 toilets were treated and a day later at the workshop with both W.A.R.D
members and the community the astonishment and near transformation of the toilet area was
praised.
One member even joked saying how now a person can enjoy a fried chicken piece while doing
their business, the statement alone showed how clean the environment had become. The
conditions of the toilets was not just bearable but now comfortable.
The second day another workshop with both the members of W.A.R.D and the community
partook. Important lessons and knowledge that was shared the previous day was given and
expanded on. The energy of the community members was set alight with hope and excitement.

The workshop as a whole had just proven that through planning, hard-work, contribution of ideas
from the youth and proper support,solutions to problems can be found and implemented by the
community for the community.

We want to thank and appreciate The Department of agriculture, rural development and land Reform' Gender Desk for sponsoring this trip