KwaKhulisa Trust Fund

We envisage the Kwakhulisa Trust Fund becoming an important feature of our organisation in the long-term. We are presently concentrating on developing it into a financial bridging institution for grass-roots women (crafters) who have no collateral or access to conventional funding. To this end Prof. Kyle Kauffman of Wellesley University in Wellesley, Massachusetts, USA, facilitated two interns for the Northern Hemisphere summer of 2002. They worked in CAS for two months and did research on various financial mechanisms. An intensive pilot project was undertaken by them in KwaMashu taking a group of women from business planning to product sale. This group is still being worked with from time to time. We also endeavour to create sales opportunities for these crafters abroad through our networks. We endeavour to open new markets and develop suitable products for an ever-widening audience. Similar nodes are under development in other areas. This drive is closely linked to our Business Course for Crafters with which it goes hand-in-hand. The fifth day of this economic intervention includes business planning. KwaKhulisa staff continue to do follow-ups with the groups upon completion of the course.

List of groups we are working with:

Many other groups have been worked with in the past which were already ongoing businesses and did not require further input. However, some existing groups dealt with are continually interfaced with. In addition, several courses were held with groups of individuals who did not wish to become a cohesive body.