Women in Business

1. Assist, mentor and create an environment in which the identified 8 pensioner women, who have taken on between them 70 - 80 orphaned children who are not blood related, can produce their own vegetables, sew clothing and help the infirm and sick. WIB respects the pride and dignity of this very poor community.
2. To provide a safe environment in the Creche & Pre-School for the women of the community to leave their children whilst they are out seeking or maintainin whatever employment they can find.

Desired Outcomes of the Project are:
1. To ensure sustainability of the continuous stream of orphaned children, by ensuring that as the "elder pensioner" ladies pass on that there is a succession plan in place to continue to care for these children. This project will never be self sustaining financially, as the ebb and flow of the participants through mortality is constantly removing skills from the group. Through the interaction of WIB the children who survive can become adults who in turn will assist those who are less fortunate.
2. To complete the block structure, used as the Creche & Pre-School by installing ceilings, window panes, flooring and doors. This will be done by ensuring that the children have warm comforable sleeping equipment, to provide educational toys and accessories. To assist the "teacher" with teaching and admin skills. To ensure that they children attending the pre-school have a hot, nutritional meal whilst at "school".

Inspiration for the project:
As an individual in ones personal capacity, one can make a limited difference. However through an organisation, each member can have an input, however large or small, and together through team effort this community can be assisted to feed, clothe and maintain themselves. Thereby allowing these women to regain their price and dignity and contribute positively to the very impovrished community in which they reside.

Implementation of the Impendle Project:
Through the interaction, skills, sponsorship and fund raising, the ladies can plant and maintain a vibrant, nourishing vegetable garden. The ladies can sew, knit and crochet clothing items, blankets, sheets and pillow cases. The ladies also produce beaded fashion items. Through specific orders received via the WIB network, these ladies are also able to generate an income to suppliment their meagre government pensions. With the Creche & Pre-School members of the community are encouraged to assist with labour with WIB providing the materials, management and overall organisation.

Funding Required as at December 2008:

Funds will be used as follows:
1. Fuel for tractor to plough, disk and harrow the virgin soil, which has been made available by the chief, so that the soil can be planted with maize, potatoes, spinach, cabbage, beans, pumkin. Fuel for tractor - R500. Compensation for driver and use of his tractor - R500
2. Fertilizers and nutrients need to be applied to the soil after soil sampling has been done and recommendations made. Soil sampling and recommendations have been sponsored by an agricultural organisation. Fertilizers & nutrients - R1,200
3. Pest control will be done as naturally as possible using washing/soapy water. However where there is a need for cutworm bait, weed control and leaf curl etc to be applied this will cost R600
4. Once vegetables are harvested the ladies dig the stalks and leaves back into the ground and leave them for the winter season. As Impendle is very cold and has a 6 month growth period due to the extreme cold, by working the left over vegetation back into the ground it provides humus for the soil.
5. For the Creche/Pre-School cement and plaster sand is needed to plaster the walls and screeding for the flooring. This is estimated to be R10,000.
6. Doors and windows are required which will cost R2,500
7. Ceilings are required with cornercing which will cost R5,000
8. Compensation towards the labour of the community involved will be R5,000. WIB encourages volunteer labour however, due to the impovrished nature of this community we would like to ensure that there is some form of compensation which labourers can use to assist the financial needs of their families. There is very limited employment opportunities in Impendle. Most residents travel by taxi for an hour to reach the closest town which is Howick.

9. Matteresses and blankets will be sourced through donations by WIB members.
10. Food for the Creche/Pre-School will be from the garden and donations made by WIB members