capacity building

Today the National Development Agency celebrates the graduation ceremony of 14 funded project beneficiaries at Fair Deal Agriculture Training Centre (FDATC) in Suurbekom. This is the result of a Memorandum of Understanding that was signed in December 2010 between the NDA and FDATC in which FDATC volunteered to train 14 NDA project beneficiaries for free. Training took place from the 10th of January 2011 to the 31st of January 2011.

The agricultural training consisted of plant and poultry production to the value of R 85 660. The skills acquired will enable the beneficiaries to properly prepare the soil for planting purposes, use and care for hand tools, basic equipment and infrastructure, and produce poultry broilers. Fair Deal also committed to accommodate the student during the duration of the programme at no cost. The graduates will today be awarded with Certificates of competence.

Mr Dan Raseluma, the NDA Capacity Building Specialist said "The benefits of the agreement will be that NDA funded projects with nominated beneficiaries will have proper skills and knowledge to produce good quality crops and be able to market them. This is contributing to the creation of a better workforce which leads to the reduction of poverty in the country."

The selected Cooperatives are from five different provinces; namely Gauteng: Isiqalo Cooperative, Asitshaleni Primary Agriculture Cooperative, Zingisane Sewing and Agricultural Primary Cooperative and Ziviseni Agricultural Cooperative; Mpumalanga: Mkhondo Vuka Usebenze Cooperative, Mangale Poultry Cooperative, Zigna HBCC and Motive Youth Cooperative; Eastern Cape: Klipplaat Cooperative and Senqu Agricutural Cooperative and Limpopo: Mulenzhe Agricultural Cooperative, Kgatlu Development Cooperative, Ikageng Tshehlong Cooperative and Hlalala Cooperative.

"The National Development Agency welcomes the support from the centre and encourages other institutions that are capable of supporting government initiatives to better the lives of South Africans to do the same. We need to work hand in hand to ensure poverty is eradicated. Mrs Khozas generosity is beyond measure, people would hardly think of supporting governments initiatives using their own resources. She did just that and that proves that together, we can do more to make a difference." said Mrs Vuyelwa Nhlapo, NDA Chief Executive Officer.

FDATC is headed by a 2007 community development winner Mrs Sabina Khoza, who opened the centre to teach the poor so that they are able to fend for themselves. The centre was started to train young people from Soweto and the surrounding areas in Agriculture, but, today the centre trains people from all over South Africa.

Ends

For More information contact :
            
For NDA:
              
Ms Mukondi Makhwathane
Tel 011 018 5536/5500 or 083 739 7642
Email: mukondelelim@nda.org.za

For Fair Deal:

Mrs Sabina  Khoza
Tel: 011 851 2613/4
Cell: 082 572 3273
Email: binafairdeal@worldonline.co.za

For more about NDA, refer to: www.nda.org.za.

To view other NGO press releases, visit: www.ngopulse.org/group/home-page/pressreleases.

Facilitator: Rusana Philander 

If you have dealt with the media before and do not know how to consolidate your relationships and are in need of a comprehensive media and marketing strategy, then this workshop is for you!

It is vital that the public, donors or funders know you and the best way to do this is via the media. When you do exceptional work in the communities you serve, it is of utmost importance that current and potential clients know this. Many times international funders or sponsors do not have access to local publications, and if your work does get published you can send them copies. Published articles always leaves behind a lasting impression. And a comprehensive marketing strategy will enable you to do this.

Basic marketing teaches you how pivotal it is that your organisation is visible and how you are perceived by the public. It is also a fact that most organisations engage with the media more by default than by design. Every organisation needs a consciously designed media strategy to create visibility amongst potential and unknown donors.

This workshop will teach you:

• The importance of a Media and Marketing Strategy
• Media and communication in the context of a sustainable organisation
•  What is a Media Strategy?
• How to develop a Media Strategy
• Understand how the media work and what makes news
• Developing a Media and Marketing Strategy
• How to get your story into the mainstream media
• Steps in building good media relationships
• Understanding the media mind
• What happens in newsrooms?
• Different forms of media to create visibility and sowing seeds

Other Benefits:

• Free evaluation of your current marketing and media strategies
• Continuous support and after-care for free 
• Free workshop notes

Workshop Dates:

Cape Town: Friday, 27 March 2009
Time: 10:00 – 15:00
Venue Scalabrini Centre, Commercial Street, Cape Town

Johannesburg, Friday 17 April 2009
Time: 10:00- 15:00
Venue: Bedfordview, Johannesburg

Refreshments will be served.
Please make deposits in account: Rusana Christie Consulting. Bank: Standard Bank, All payments must be made a week prior to the workshop)
Account number: 206 156 243, Branch code: 023 910. Your payment will confirm your booking.) 

About the facilitator:
Rusana Philander is a media specialist, professional journalist and photographer who have been actively working in the media industry for more than 10 years. She also has a strong NGO background where she trained and assisted many NGOs and CBOs to design their own newsletters. She studied Journalism at Pentech now known as CPUT (Cape Peninsula University of Technology). She later moved to the commercial media and worked for a major daily newspaper, a tabloid and a major Sunday newspaper. She has experience in radio and studied Marketing and Marketing Management. Over the years Rusana assisted many organisations and companies in getting their stories published and creating visibility. She also has experience in media liaison and worked as a Media Liaision Officer.

Other services:

• Writing Press Statements
• Organising press conferences
• Developing a media policy
• Help you develop a marketing and media strategy
• Assist in implementing a media strategy
• Evaluate your media strategy
•  Help you start a newsletter
• Evaluate your existing newsletter or magazine and getting maximum marketing out of it.                          

How to register for this workshop

Contact Rusana Philander on 073 194 7145 or e-mail her at 0832518549@mtnloaded.co.za.