​Life in the communities around Zithulele is marred by economic disparities and limited access to essential services, creating a shadow over the region. Challenges in healthcare, education, and employment have resulted in a population where 21% rely on insufficient government grants, schools struggle with myriad issues, leading to only a 9% high school graduation rate and a mere 1% attain an undergraduate degree or higher. Unemployment stands at a staggering 92%. Despite the challenges, there is growing hope fueled by strong partnerships between the community and the NGOs committed to long-term development. Jabulani, proud to be part of this collaboration, contributes to positive change through healthcare, early childhood development, environmental initiatives, and livelihood development. Our projects are designed to foster sustainable progress in Zithulele. With our physical base in the village and a team primarily composed of local community members, we can directly respond to community-driven priorities, promoting proactive solutions in an area marked by deprivation.

​RURAL ABILITY
​PROGRAMME

Jabulani's Rural Ability Programme is a community-based inclusive development initiative rooted in the pressing need to address the injustices, inequalities, and exclusions faced by people with disabilities in this deeply rural area. The programme encompasses the fundamental aspects of inclusive development including health, education, empowerment, social integration, and livelihoods, with the overarching goal of enhancing access to services and opportunities while improving overall quality of life. Since its launch in 2014, RAP has made substantial progress fueled by a commitment to forging connections and empowering its clients, and these success stories underscore the tangible impact the programme has had. The comprehensive approach of the programme reflects our commitment to inclusivity, community engagement, and a brighter future. We work not only to improve access to services and opportunities but also to instill hope, foster acceptance, and restore dignity in the lives of our clients. You can help to create a more inclusive and equitable society where every individual, regardless of their abilities, can thrive, by visiting our donation page.​

Masiphakameni youth development gap year

The Masiphakameni Youth Development Programme, meaning "Let's Rise" in isiXhosa, is a transformative gap year initiative designed for young women with untapped potential. Originally delivered by Jabulani for young men before it was entrusted to another Zithulele-based NGO, the Masiphakameni programme has been restructured to empower young women. The programme is tailored to equip participants with essential life skills and knowledge to better prepare them for life's challenges, whether they're pursuing further education, training, employment, or a fulfilling adult life in the village. With a deliberate focus on a small annual intake of 8-10 participants, the programme provides a comprehensive curriculum and pairs each participant with a seasoned mentor from the community. Through this holistic support, young women build self-worth, self-awareness, and confidence while expanding their horizons, enhancing transferable skills, and fostering resilience. Exposure to diverse cultures, professional backgrounds, and life experiences further enriches their development. Masiphakameni addresses a vital need in our community, and its success is evident in the achievements of our alumni. Your support enables us to continue offering these life-changing opportunities to more young women, creating a brighter future for them within Zithulele and beyond.

EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT

The significance of early childhood development (ECD) is gradually gaining recognition within our rural community, thanks in part to the efforts of Jabulani and other local NGOs. While these developments are promising, we acknowledge that a deep understanding of the pivotal role of ECD has not yet permeated to the extent where it consistently takes precedence over other household needs in our complex socio-economic context. Zithulele Preschool, established in 2009 in response to the community's request, and Khanyisa Preschool which Jabulani started managing in 2013, stand as a testament to our commitment to early childhood development. Our long term involvement has been foundational in nurturing trust within the community, gradually elevating the significance of ECD. Both schools serves families from the surrounding communities, as well as the professional families employed by NGOs and nearby Zithulele Hospital. For many professionals, the availability of a high-quality educational option for their children is pivotal in their decision to reside and work in Zithulele long term, making our preschool an indispensable asset. Our preschools play a pivotal role in providing young children with early childhood development, laying robust educational foundations encompassing pre-literacy and pre-numeracy skills necessary for Grade R readiness. Zithulele Preschool follows the Montessori method, while Khanyisa Preschool uses traditional ECD models of teaching. Funding support for our preschools is essential to sustain the work we do. By investing in our preschools, donors can contribute to the well-being and future prospects of the children in our community, ensuring they receive the foundational education they deserve and paving the way for a brighter future.

​HEALTHY VILLAGE
PROJECT

Located 4km inland from a pristine section of South Africa's Wild Coast, our village and its surrounds face a pressing challenge. Without municipal waste removal services, residents must resort to burning, burying, or dumping waste throughout the area, marring the landscape and causing serious health and environmental issues. The nearest official rubbish dump is 55km away and in the absence of alternatives, Jabulani took on the responsibility of transporting waste to the municipal dump until our efforts to contract the municipality to make regular collections came through and we remain committed to bagging waste and paying for its collection. Anyone can bring bagged rubbish to the centre during office hours or deposit it over the fence after hours. We also sort and recycle about two tonnes of plastic, paper, glass and tin a month and transport it to Mthatha, 95km away. Our small team diligently works to keep the heart of Zithulele Village clean, conducting regular litter collections, maintaining waste and recycling bins, and cleaning storm drains and gutters. We acknowledge that the need for waste management is far greater than our current reach and that education about the importance of dealing with waste appropriately, is crucial for the long term improvement of this issue. In a merging of this programme with Jabulani’s livelihoods programme, we are excited about the future potential of transforming recyclables into something useful for this community. Despite the seemingly insurmountable problem of waste management, it is satisfying to know that even what we are doing now is making a positive impact on our beloved environment and village and are eager to expand this programme with your support.

Livelihoods Development

livelihoods Access Centre

Years of nurturing relationships, pondering opportunities, and listening to the community's needs all converged in mid-2019. What had once seemed like an elusive dream began to take shape as a tangible reality. On September 1st, 2022, we proudly opened the Imbewu Livelihoods Access Centre, that has two training rooms for hire for training that benefits the development of livelihoods or other community development initiatives in this area, and that acts as a hub for much of our livelihoods programme. If you're curious about the centre's origin and the significance of its name, follow this link. For a deeper dive into the initiatives stemming from this hub, and our other livelihoods initiatives, read on.

Siyabulela coffee shop

Transforming from dream to reality, Siyabulela Coffee Shop offers more than a 'taste of the city' in our deeply rural location. Located within the Livelihoods Centre, Siyabulela (meaning "we give thanks") serves coffees, baked goods, and light lunches, fostering employment and development for staff and work placement students. Beyond a serene space, patrons, praise the sense of peace and hope in Jabulani's first social enterprise. Siyabulela also serves as a platform for local artisans. Our vision is to upskill our team and become an accredited training site for hospitality, customer service, and barista training.

buyisithemba secondhand shop

​Nurturing hope through sustainability, our Buyisithemba ('Restoration of Hope') Secondhand Shop is a vital social enterprise within the Livelihoods Centre. Beyond offering the community affordable clothing, accessories, and small household items, this initiative serves as a crucial income source. While currently covering its operational costs, the shop's proceeds should gradually evolve into a funding stream for Jabulani's non-income generating livelihood projects.

ubomi print and parcel

​Ubomi Print and Parcel is your go-to hub for office and courier services. Whether it's printing, photocopying, or sending and receiving parcels, Ubomi, meaning "life," has you covered. Our services eliminate the need for a 55-kilometer journey to Mqanduli or a 95-kilometer trek to Mthatha. Through our partnership with PUDO, The Courier Guy's smart locker delivery system, we offer efficient outgoing and incoming courier services, opening new avenues for local entrepreneurs and artisans. The Ubomi office, also serving as the Livelihoods Centre main office, houses our Center manager who is responsible for coordinating events and overseeing the general use of the building.

creative entrepreneur support

Collaborating with local creative artisans who are the true architects of their products (no resellers, only creators), Jabulani engages artisans in a journey of empowerment. Providing support tailored to their unique needs, be it enhancing product quality, budgeting skills,  or procurement support etc., Jabulani collaborates with partners and stakeholders to address these diverse needs so that each creative entrepreneur is supported in developing their business on their terms. If they wish to, artisans may  showcase their creations in the Siyabulela Coffee Shop, with a small commission going to Jabulani to cover costs.

seedling and fresh produce market

​While the propagation of seedlings is off to a small start, reviving Jabulani's nursery of old but in a new location, the Seedling and Fresh Produce Market, will be closely linked to the Small Scale Agriculture project (see below). The intention is to provide seedlings for sale to the community, again preventing the need for travel to procure these. The Fresh Produce Market will be implemented when the participants from our agricultural training are producing enough for there to be surplus beyond their own family's needs, and would like to sell to a wider market.

SMALL SCALE AGRICULTURE

building services

Despite fertile soil and access to land, challenges such as lost farming knowledge due to death and migrant labour as well as misperceptions about the indignity of agriculture as a suitable livelihood persist, meaning that land is vastly under-utilised. Nevertheless, the land represents a valuable asset, offering people the potential to improve their livelihoods situation through agricultural activities, thus re-shaping their own quality of life. We have been actively exploring Farming God's Way (FGW), a small-scale agricultural methodology (that has been been successfully employed since the early 1980s and has yielded positive outcomes in over 40 countries worldwide) since 2020, in preparation for a broader initiative as part of our expanded livelihoods programme. The method does not require expensive tools or equipment, and the training covers effective farm management combining theoretical education with practical demonstrations; business skills for those who want to take it further than subsistence; and encourages spiritual growth. With successful pilot gardens under our belts and a fully accredited trainer on our team, and as we witness the progress of each participant's cultivated garden so far, it is becoming increasingly evident that the new methods are proving to be effective and we are excited to see how this programme continues to empower our community to cultivate sustainable livelihoods.

In 2007, Jabulani was granted community land by a senior Tribal Authority body for our community development efforts. Recognising the challenges NGOs faced in securing land in Zithulele, this space became a hub for other organisations. The Zithulele Community Centre and a community jungle gym, maintained by Jabulani, are situated on this land. Since 2010, we've been actively involved in construction and maintenance, providing housing for Zithulele Hospital and NGO staff. Our focus is on developing simple yet attractive multi-bedroom homes, facilitating long-term staff retention, a crucial factor in significant community transformation. We prioritise the meticulous maintenance of these buildings to ensure their sustainable use. Our small team is also available for hire within the village, for basic maintenance and garden care, the income from which goes into our non-income generating livelihoods initiatives.