Zutari and Bakwena drive community development impact using innovative methodology
 | Zutari and Bakwena drive community development impact using innovative methodology_final | 75.5 KB | Download |
 Preview | Amelia Visagie, Communication and Stakeholder Engagement Manager at Zutari | 3.85 MB | Download |
 Preview | The Bafenyi ka Bakwena ABCD Project empowers local communities | 4.06 MB | Download |
 Preview | Fifteen community Champions were selected on a volunteer basis to represent five Rustenburg wards | 3.57 MB | Download |
 Preview | The project kicked off with various engagements with community leadership structures and organisations | 4.39 MB | Download |
 | Bakwena_Mcebici_Sept2020 | 9.91 MB | Download |
| Bakwena flagship project | 20.48 MB | Download |
| Bakwena_Wyse_Sept2020 | 9.98 MB | Download |
| Bawkena_Gomolemo_Sept2020 | 6.85 MB | Download |
| Dineo and Mathlogonolo | 9.35 MB | Download |
In South Africa, infrastructure delivery and employment creation work side by side. The contribution of infrastructure delivery to economic growth and job creation is well-established by Bakwena and Zutari. A good relationship with neighbouring communities is crucial in making engineering and socio-economic development projects progress smoothly.
The Bafenyi ka Bakwena Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) Project aims to empower the community and ensure fewer dependencies on external entities for their survival and development, which would often be detrimental to community cohesion. “Using the ABCD method, a community can develop networks, discover assets and use these to identify and start small- and large-scale initiatives for the benefit of the whole community, with a view to sustainable long-term empowerment,” explains Amelia Visagie, Communication and Stakeholder Engagement Manager at Zutari.
The opportunities the N4 project brings, includes increased commerce, improved travel routes to schools, healthcare centres and places of work. The ABCD methodology also enables Bakwena to communicate proactively with the impacted communities, entering into a participative relationship. The ABCD approach changes mindsets and assists communities to use what they have in order to solve community specific challenges collectively and enable the community to rely on themselves instead of external parties.
The project kicked off with various engagements with community leadership structures and organisations. This was in partnership with government representatives to negotiate alignment with the larger development goals in the region. The independence and transparency of the process ensured its smooth running and that the project was not hampered or beholden to any particular group or agenda. A total of 15 community Champions were selected on a volunteer basis to represent five different wards in the Rustenburg area.
The Champions were trained in the ABCD methodology through an initial five-day workshop and received valuable life-skills training in subsequent monthly workshops. The Champions were responsible for disseminating ABCD information in their communities by hosting workshops, holiday programmes and engaging with community members. The initiative started gaining momentum as early adopters of the ABCD process and the Champions themselves started small-scale community projects. These relate to agriculture, maintenance and even making and distributing sanitisers and masks to community members to ensure they comply with the Covid-19 regulations.
The Champions began a digital asset-mapping process to increase new project identification in communities when the nationwide lockdown was implemented due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Even Covid-19 could not stop the passion and enthusiasm of the Champions. Although they were no longer able to continue with face-to-face community engagements and projects, they continued engaging their communities on social media and other online platforms. Hence a ‘home-based’ style of ABCD started to flourish. The Zutari Communication and Stakeholder Engagement Team developed branded Covid-19 messages that were sent out to Champions to disseminate through social media to family, friends and their communities.
Zutari crafts authentic African solutions to some of the world’s most challenging problems. What works globally does not always translate into contextually relevant answers. If you have a project that can benefit from ABCD methodology, email Amelia Visagie at Amelia [dot] Visagie [at] Zutari [dot] com or contact Zutari on (012) 427 2000.
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Notes to the Editor
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About Zutari
As engineering consultants and trusted advisors, Zutari co-creates an engineered impact that enables environments, communities and economies to thrive. Few others can match our local capacity, long-standing presence and understanding of the challenges required to operate successfully across various regions in Africa.
We have created an impact across Africa for the past 88 years (1932 to 2020) and remain committed to this continent, making us the perfect partner to those less familiar with working in Africa. We are experienced in international projects and our Global Design Centres allow us to bring world-class solutions to our clients.
As a private management-owned company, our commitment is true and we have vested interest in our clients’ success. Our strong relationships allow us to connect the right expertise, processes and resources to match client’s needs and bring stakeholders that have shared interests together.
We blend the old and the new. We have moved beyond traditional engineering and work collaboratively to integrate technical and creative thinking. This process of co-creation allows us to unearth new opportunities with our clients and partners.
Zutari’s broad collective of in-house, industry-recognised engineering consultants and trusted advisors provide seamless and integrated delivery. This unique ability to offer scaled engagement allows Zutari to solve complex challenges more efficiently.
Grounded in digital engineering, we continuously deliver better results.
Zutari Contact
Rashree Maharaj
PR and Media Advisor
Email: Rashree [dot] Maharaj [at] zutari [dot] com
Tel: (012) 427 2000
Media Contact
Renay Tandy
NGAGE Public Relations
Phone: (011) 867 7763
Fax: 086 512 3352
Cell: 082 562 5088
Email: renay [at] ngage [dot] co [dot] za
Web: www.ngage.co.za