ACAT

Kathryn has been promising to give you all more details of what I have been doing here at Refilwe.  What she has really meant this whole time is that she is waiting for me to finish writing something that she can post.  Well, without further delay, here it is. 

The Life and Specific Skills program is a result of a partnership between Refilwe and the Africa Cooperative Action Trust (ACAT).

ACAT was established in 1979 as a Christian Development Trust committed to enabling disadvantaged rural people to improve and sustain their quality of life spiritually, physically, materially, intellectually, socially and environmentally.

Refilwe was started in 1991 and has grown to provide a wide range of medical and educational services to a severely disadvantaged community.  As you can see, Refilwe and ACAT have a lot in common.

My experiences so far in the informal settlements in the area surrounding Refilwe have revolved around visiting with business owners that are being supported by the ACAT Refilwe Skills Development program.  Businesses range from daycares to technology services to bakeries.  Some are small, some are large, some are just getting on their feet while others are making a solid profit.  Refilwe’s role is to provide ongoing training and support with a sole focus on sustainability. 

I have found myself doing everything from training childcare workers how to plan class activities to teaching the basics of Microsoft Excel.  There is a real desire to learn new skills and be formally trained. 

The other side of this program for me has involved suggesting administrative structure for the program.  While Refilwe is not a new organization in terms of years, they are new in the establishment of policies and procedures that help them run smoothly.  While all that may sound restrictive the reality is that when those things are in place time and other resources are freed up and allow people to be active in building relationships, the real work of development.         

Working with a developing organization in an underdeveloped community trying to create sustainable development is not without it’s challenges.  Just about everything possess the potential for growth and the limitation of not being able to do everything at once is frustrating on many levels.  To say that it is always fun would not be truthful, but it is always meaningful.