8 March 2023 Johannesburg:   In October 2021, Khulisa Social Solutions embarked on the Sustainable Livelihoods Programme, after receiving donor funding.  The focus area of the programme, is the Amandelbult and Rustenburg catchment areas.

Since November 2022, Khulisa has engaged with NGO’s, stakeholders and members of the community to assess their needs.   An in-depth needs analysis was conducted amongst them, with one of the needs highlighted, being  the lack of training that they faced.

To address one of the major needs identified during the needs analysis process, a two-day organizational policies and procedures training workshop was held in Mogwase on 27 and 28 February 2023, attended by 31 participants from 13 local NGO’s.  The training was hosted by Makhoaphe Letsie-Mbatha, Founder of Onako Development Consultancy, who is a specialist in policy and procedures.  The main objectives of the workshop were to:

1. Define policies and procedures.
2. Provide practical tools on how to develop policies and procedures.
3. Identify a few policies and procedures that each organization will develop in the next few months. 

At the beginning of the workshop, everyone expressed how they did not have the necessary skills to develop policies and procedures, and in their view, would be unable to develop any for their organizations. By the end of day one, following fun filled participatory activities and robust discussions, about 90% of the participants felt confident about their ability to create policies. Through teamwork, laughter and learning, this workshop resulted in participants developing their own policy frameworks. 

Each NGO was tasked to develop three different policies relevant to their organizations for review in March 2023, with a final session for all NGO’s in April 2023 to present their policies.  Everyone left confident and in high spirits.

Some of the written feedback included:

“This is the first time I sat in a workshop since I matriculated, I was so anxious at the beginning and now… now I see that I am clever, I am so excited.”

“I feel transformed and equipped, thank you.”

“I feel so refreshed, I was expecting to just sit and listen, but we did actual work. It was educating.”

“I believe and feel like I got more than expected, I am happy.”