Move over, men!

Navy Simukonda, Acting Director of the Transkei Land Service Organisation (TRALSO) in Umtata, Eastern Cape, in South Africa has passed on to us the success story of the Masibambane Women s Project in Mpindweni near Umtata. 'The project started in 1996 around a land claim case, facilitated by TRALSO. The women involved set up income-generating activities including baking, sewing and a community food garden. In 1998 they received training in baking, vegetable production and piggery management and some funds from the Netherlands Embassy. A community food garden was set up on a new site of 2.5 ha of land, with a building. Unfortunately, the garden s fence was broken down and cattle were allowed into the garden to graze all the produce the women had been growing. The culprits were men of high standing in the community who felt threatened by the women s success. They claimed the women should not have the land since no men were involved, and anyway it was meant for their cattle. Gradually after negotiation meetings, the community accepted that women as well deserve their own recognition in development activities. Now the project operates on the new site, and there are no more threats from the men. Because of the success of the project, there are ten other women s small-scale self-help development projects under the Masizakhe Mpindweni Forum, a Xhosa word for 'trying to help and build ourselves'. The men are completely silenced, and they were all invited to the launch celebration day of the Masizakhe Forum. [caption to illustration] Masibambane Women s Project members with Ms Y van Eechoud of the Netherlands Embassy, and Mr SimukondaNavy Simukonda, Acting Director of the Transkei Land Service Organisation (TRALSO) in Umtata, Eastern Cape, in South Africa has passed on to us the success story of the Masibambane Women s Project in Mpindweni near Umtata.'The project started in..