SAEDP in Lesotho, South Africa and Zimbabwe consulted with communities and reported back on the ALI training to various stakeholders groups, and shared news of the formation of the Compas Africa Network. 750 women, 650 men, 450 youth and 380 children participated in these initiatives.
Communities shared their passion about their humanity and integrity and their insistent spirit of continuing with determination to uphold their traditional lifestyles. Communities felt motivated to continue the legacy of use of organic manure in their agricultural practices in place of synthetic fertilizers in order to preserve the soil texture, water quality and human health/ well-being. Communities also reaffirmed their deeply entrenched spiritual values including the significance enshrined in small grains like sorghum, finger and pearl millets.
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IMPACTS AND CHALLENGES
The exercise influenced the communities towards enhancing improved livelihoods and social cohesion in rural development programmes. Communities became more motivated towards managing and controlling their bio-cultural diversity engulfing the Endogenous Development approach as a continuous process of adaptation and innovation, staring from within the local community. In each stakeholder community, however, SAEDP staff encountered the challenge to clarify the term “resilience”. They found “endurance” worked best in the context that the Traditional Institutions in Southern Africa have experienced over many years against many odds. Communities are now empowered to safeguard their cultural identity, dignity, humanity and value systems. SAEDP also developed and launched their website: www.saedp.org.za
FUTURE
The spirit of self-reliance and self-sufficiency has increased efforts for the diversification of indigenous food crops to stabilize food security. Youths are increasingly becoming deeply immersed in their culture and belief systems, which provides hope for the future.
Contributed by SAEDP staff
