Alexandra Tourism and Sustainable Small Business Development

- Project Appeal -
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Country and location
The Khayalethu Trust oversees the Alexandra Tourism and Small Business Development project (Khayalethu Project) in Alexandra Township, Sandton, Johannesburg.
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Aims and objectives
“Khayalethu” is the Zulu world for “Our Home”. The Project is located in a densely populated area once known as BEIRUT due to the high level of violence between people of different tribes and political parties.

For several years before and following the liberation of South Africa from Apartheid in 1994, thousands of residents in this area lived in squalor, without jobs, decent sewerage, easy access to water, electricity or adequate health services.

Crime flourished along with a lack of self-esteem, exploitation of women and a steady increase in AIDS.
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Participants and sponsors
This project has succeeded in converting a community from one in which people were hopeless, jobless, often violent and lived in a filthy degrading environment, to a community which is vibrant, industrious and a focal point for the entire neighborhood, regardless of race or creed.

Sponsorship by the Department of Arts Culture Science and Technology will cease at the end of 2004.
As regards accountability the department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology provides funding for cultural aspects of the project and monitors its progress; the Red Cross partners the project to enhance management, (no funding) and to support members with Aids; Price Water House Coopers Inc conducts an annual audit.

Banking details, audited statements, details concerning managers and members and bank statement, are available on request.

The participants include women, youth, children, men, disabled people and persons with HIV or AIDS. They live in a hostel and surrounding dwellings (including shacks) in Alexandra, Sandton, Johannesburg. The number of persons affected by the project is approx. 4000 to 5000.
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Brief Background
The KHAYALETHU PROJECT has the following goals:

  1. Create jobs.


  2. Develop self-esteem.


  3. Empower women.


  4. Educate people to establish and sustain small businesses in the fields of crafts, baking, recycling, tourism, arts and culture, and food gardens.


  5. Eradicate poverty, improve health, build cultural identity, promote creativity, advance skills, develop global partnerships towards technology transfer and scientific advancement.


  6. Improve the environment and promote the use of sustainable energy sources. This project has six components, which operate either in an ongoing fashion to promote jobs for the residents, or operate on prescribed days to provide a unique experience of urban African life. The six aspects of the project are:


    7. 1. Crafts and Culture
    2. Recycling
    3. Food Garden
    4. Cooking and Baking
    5. Tourism
    6. Business Training
All five divisions group together to provide a unique eco-cultural tourist experience. Residents produce beadwork, bags, patchwork, cloth toys, woven wire baskets, 400 loaves of bread per day and vegetables, they perform glass, plastic and paper recycling, in addition to performances of acting, dancing and singing.

Crafts and goods are marketed throughout the world. The artistic value of the crafts far outweighs their cost. The products are beautiful and of a kind not found in other countries.
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Appeal
Only once the people of Alexandra, South Africa and Africa have goals, skills, and purposeful work and gain self-esteem and independence, will we stem the tide of crime and promote growth in these areas.
The ever-expanding pool of positive or peaceful contributors can only grow with your support.

Please become our partners. We appeal to you to help us to globalize equity, assist the third world overcome poverty and improve the environment by promoting worthwhile endeavors and giving constructive guidance to these people.

Yours sincerely
DR RUTH RABINOWITZ M.P. (Trustee)

Trustees: Dr Ruth Rabinowitz (Chairperson) Mr Nathan Banda (SA Red Cross) Mr Sol Gordon (Attorney) Mr P van Reenen Mr Robert Youngworth Mrs Brigitte Youngworth Cllr A Ximba Robin Binckes
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Contact Details
Mr Nathan Banda
Johannesburg Red Cross

Tel: +27 11 339 1992
Fax: +27 11 339 1993
E-mail : info@africanhandcrafts.co.za

Click here to send us an e-mail from this site.
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