Bakwena Platinum Corridor Concessionaire (Pty) Ltd, (Bakwena), launched its Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) Project along the N4 corridor in the North West province, during the course of 2019 in partnership with Aurecon.The ABCD project is running until the end of June
2020.
The project entailed appointing and training of volunteer Community Champions or Change Agents in the Rustenburg area to roll out the project Bafenyi ka Bakwena (The Winners with Bakwena) in various wards. The ABCD Project’s aim is to build on the assets that are already in the community and mobilise individuals, associations, and institutions to come together to understand and develop their strengths, all the while assisting in the growth of their local communities to benefit community-based projects. ABCD is an evolving method in development practice to operationalize participating development principles. It is aimed at engaging communities for Socio- Economic independence.
This approach focuses on the fact that everybody has something, nobody has nothing.
Before the COVID-19 lockdown kicked in, on the 19 th March, Aurecon conducted a basic training and information session on the COVID-19 situation. The Champions were briefed on what the virus is, how it spreads, and the mitigation measures required for a person to stay safe and curb the virus’ spread.
In the spirit of ABCD the project team from Aurecon brought in some ingredients from their homes to help champions make their own hand sanitizer. Ingredients included: vinegar, lemon juice, sunlight liquid, Dettol, Savlon or spirits. That is true ABCD in action, the project team asked themselves what assets they have. The Champions were shown how to make their own sanitising liquid from basic materials provided by the Aurecon team. The Champions were also given information material to learn from and disseminate throughout their communities about Corona.
“These talented and enthusiastic Champions play a positive role in their communities and we are confident that with their enthusiasm and commitment, they will collectively succeed in spreading the right information throughout their communities on what the virus is, its symptoms, the measures to follow to prevent getting the virus, what to do if you suspect you have the virus as well as how to prevent the spread the virus”, says Solomon Kganyago, Bakwena’s Commercial Manager. The ABCD project allows these volunteers to make meaningful contributions to their society which will result in the upliftment and transformation of the lives of the people living in these Rustenburg
communities.
The ABCD project is still going on however, there is no direct interaction with the communities that is happening at this stage. The Champions have started their own ABCD initiatives in their own homes and they are using social media to share what they are doing with their families and neighbours. The president of South Africa, Mr Cyril Ramaphosa in his speech on Monday, 23 March 2020 said, “I call on all of us, one and all, to play our part. To be courageous, to be patient, and above all, to show compassion”. Aurecon insists that the good work that the Champions are doing is not going to be influenced by the lockdown. The Champions are doing brilliant ABCD initiatives and they are highly motivated at this stage.
“Bakwena is committed to a programme of corporate social investment which supports and contributes to the development of communities along the Bakwena N1N4 Corridor. We are proud and excited to be working alongside the communities of Rustenburg and look forward to further engaging with them and collectively contributing to the upliftment and transformation of the communities in Rustenburg,” concludes Kganyago.
