Future Projects

The influence and aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic on the economy and vulnerable people will be felt for years to come.  The Interchange Foundation has redirected its efforts to support staff not working during the lockdown (nonessential staff) and staff who may lose their jobs due to job-cut. To assist staff the support in the form of donations is requested from residents to ensure people do not go to bed hungry. The Conv19 UIF will pay-out between 38-60% of their wage, which was already low; the other concern is also that UIF is so overwhelmed with claims they have not paid out most of the claims leaving people with no income. The following section provides information on interventions to alleviate the impact of this unwanted situation.

In the past couple of years, several projects were initiated to provide vegetables or healthy foods to vulnerable staff. The advent of the Covert-19 pandemic has brought these efforts to an abrupt stop due to social distancing, but hardship is the mother of innovation. To bridge the gap of social distancing, the foundation is asking for donations to purchase vouchers from a leading supermarket group to assist needy staff monthly. The vouchers are a simple process as it can be distributed as a tangible card or virtual voucher on a cell phone, the advantage of this system is the removal of time-wasting activities and allowing staff to purchase what they need in the area they live. The cards can also be used in townships as the retailer has several smaller branches under a different trading name, i.e. Usave.  The other advantage is that we can negotiate with the group and use economies of scale to purchase an R 100 voucher for R 95 if we purchase in bulk. 

The winter is approaching, and residents and interested people can make donations or make blankets for disadvantaged communities as sadly people are not in a position to sacrifice food money for necessities which have become the new luxuries, i.e. blankets. The project has already gathered momentum, and we are genuinely great full to the Mouton sisters from the estate knitting beautiful blankets seen in the picture hereinafter. These blankets are going to make a considerable difference in stranger’s life.

The concept of assisting small and medium business was a project identified before the advent of the COV-19 pandemic as the economy continues to spiral downwards and cooperate business unable to absorb the unemployed. Being unemployed has been the root cause of many of our problems as it led to the destruction of the moral fabric of our society and individual self-esteem. The project has the purpose of making businesses the primary catalyst to fight poverty and provide people with opportunities and take the forgotten one’s back from gangs, prostitution, drug and social grant dependency.  

The project aims to create and inspire an interconnectedness amongst the business community and all stakeholder in the community. Facets of the project include:

• identifying outsourcing opportunities at established businesses to create mutually beneficial start-up businesses in the community, i.e. restaurant buying produce from local small farms.
• Assist start-up with knowledge and funding to create businesses.
• Identifying scares skills in local businesses to align with local tertiary institutions to create short competency-based training courses to upskill school drop-outs and entrepreneurs with skills shortages, i.e. basic bookkeeping, computer skills, marketing, stock control, welding, cooking, barista.
• Inspire the youth through career fairs and career counselling to follow the careers offered in the community (reality check) to refrain from seeking opportunities in the city or pursuing a qualification crafted to be exciting which has no relevance to finding a job or contributing to the community.
• The project also aims to assist and support established businesses to scale or improve efficiency, or simply not to close their doors. With this leg, the support of the business minds in the estate would be necessary to assist entrepreneurs.

The “Natasha’s house” project has been such a success story and something to be proud of. The foundation is planning to scale the project as the need is high, and several residents have shown a keen interest in assisting staff to continue with similar projects. The project will be continued after the lockdown regulations have been eased or completely lifted.

If you are interested in participating or donating to any of the projects above, please send an e-mail to info@interchangefoundation.co.za.