Empowerment Projects

Jagersbosch has a future-oriented developmental plan that strives to create opportunities for members of the community to become self-sustaining. This includes training in life skills as well as for certain careers. The aim is to facilitate job creation and entrepreneurship in the local community.

	Soete-Inval Botanical Garden in Melkhoutfontein is maintained by the people living in the units at the Soeterus Care Centre.
	Soete-Arbeid Workshop - here women are taught to produce handcrafted articles for sale to the tourist industry.
	The Cat-in-the-bag project - artists from the local community aim at mass-producing one product to sell to the local tourism market.
	Kleinkind - children’s clothing is designed and made to sell to the local market as well as to tourists.
	Hartlief - this is a class for mentally and physically disadvantaged children at the local school. This class is financially independent and relies on donations and fundraising to survive. Jagersbosch is in partnership with the class and assists with fundraising efforts.
	Homecare training - a local volunteer trains potential home carers on a regular basis so that they may be gainfully employed.
	First aid training - regular first-aid courses are offered in conjunction with St John’s Ambulance and home carers as well as other staff members attend. The course is also open to any member of the public.
	Training in affiliation with the Bergzicht Training Centre in Stellenbosch will begin in early 2005. Certified courses in home management and caring will be offered. A number of other training programmes will also be offered.
	Tourism training - Jagersbosch was involved in identifying the participants of the Adult Learners’ Programme, providing facilities and information for the project. Each of the participants has a portfolio and must develop products as part of the training, to be able to market Melkhoutfontein to tourists. The participants received their certificates in March 2003 and are known as Die Strandvelders. Members are currently developing home stays and other products
	100 Women Co-op project - Jagersbosch does the administration for this innovative concept.