CAS Training

KNOW YOUR BODY

This three day course in Zulu, (which is also offered in English and Sotho), to previously disadvantaged communties, acknowledges that the body is the primary site around which all dreams of identity and affirmation are founded. This course takes this body site and validates it by offering knowledge. It covers, amongst other issues: knowledge of the body, rights to the body, cancer, sexually transmitted diseases, planned parenthood, opportunistic diseases and diet. By the end of 2005 CAS had trained 7000 people within KwaZulu-Natal in this course with special emphasis on the rural Ugu district and Durban and its surroundings. Knowledge upgrade courses are periodically provided for trainers and the community at large is networked with. One of these collaborative groups is the Traditional Healers Association.

COST TO TRAIN 5000 MEN AND WOMEN ANNUALLY R500 000,00

BUSINESS FOR CRAFTERS

The Zulu language Business Course for Crafters (also available in English) attempts to teach artists and crafters to understand the market forces that impact on their production. A five-day course covers skill upgrade, basic business skills, market development, information on setting up a small business and banking information. The fifth day deals with business planning and the possibility of a micro interest-free loan being made available through CAS' Kwakhulisa initiative. Follow-up consultations are done once a week for three weeks and once a month for three months.

COST TO TRAIN 260 MEN AND WOMEN ANNUALLY R120 000,00

Drawing / skill upgrade for crafters

This course facilitates product development. We are seeking ways in which to expand this training to all our constituents as they largely come from the crafting/self-employed population. A one-year holistic program, implementing a ceramic training syllabus and concluding with the abovementioned Business Course for Crafters has been completed in the rural Dududu area with the graduation of 11 people on the 26 June 2002

Embroidery Skills Upgrade

This program is available from time to time to the women of Amazwi Abesifazane as and when sponsors our found. One such programme was run in 2001, sponsored by The Artists Human Rights Trust and an impressive large wall hanging has been produced. In August 2003, sponsored by a partner from the USA, Susan Dvora, another workshop was run for a group of 9 women. An expert embroiderer was employed and various stitch and design principles were taught. The products from this workshop were sent to the USA where the cloths produced may find alternative markets. In addition, further expert courses were held through Susan Dvora in December 2003 and January 2004.