Overcoming poverty through ACAT

Background Information
Over 70% of South Africa’s poor live in rural areas where they are faced with poverty, resource degradation, malnutrition, unemployment and disease.

ACAT’s Response and Mission Statement
ACAT was established in 1979 as a Christian Development Trust committed to enabling disadvantaged rural people to improve and sustain their quality of life spiritually, physically, materially, intellectually, socially and environmentally.

Target Group
ACAT’s target group is the poorest of the previously disadvantaged rural communities – focusing on small farmers, entrepreneurs and learners. However, ACAT does not work exclusively with the poorest.

Programme interventions and their objectives
To fulfill its mission, ACAT implements the programmes of :

• Sustainable Agriculture (SAP),
• Entrepreneurial Development (EDP) and
• Adult Basic Education and Training (ABET).

In addition to their specialized objectives, each Programme aims to provide the targeted rural families with the opportunities, passion and capacity to :

• become self reliant.
• overcome the causes of poverty within their control.
• become involved in groups, co-operatives and village banks.

Sustainable Agriculture Programme (SAP)
SAP enables targeted rural farmers and their families to improve their quality of life through sustainable agriculture, beginning with low cost food production. Over time, SAP assists them to develop their homesteads and farms as role models of sustainable agriculture.

Entrepreneurial Development Programme (EDP)
EDP empowers targeted rural entrepreneurs and their families to improve their quality of life through small profitable enterprises and by stimulating local economic activities. Services include small loans and training in business skills. EDP enables entrepreneurs to use their enterprises as role models of sustainable business practices and economically viable units.

Adult Basic Education and Training (ABET)
ABET provides an accredited and vocationally based education and training programme to enable learners to address rural poverty in a sustained manner. Skills training is also available. To this end, appropriate learning materials are developed, and ABET Facilitators are identified and equipped to serve their communities with adult basic education and training.

Strategies to achieve objectives

• The target group is identified.
• Household food security is promoted and taught.
• Keen and target group farmers and their sustainable homesteads and farm units are established.
• Economic activities are stimulated and small profitable enterprises are established.
• Groups, co-ops and Village Banks are established.
• Facilitators and learners are developed to improve their quality of life and to impact on others.
• Learning materials are developed and used.

Sustainable practices
Programmes promote, teach and facilitate the application of practices which are :

• economically sound,
• environmentally friendly and
• will enable future generations to meet their needs.

Development approach
ACAT believes that certain elements are necessary to achieve sustainable development and these are integrated into each Programme. They are :

• spiritual regeneration
• HIV/Aids
• capacity building
• applying the principles of people development, ownership, participation, multiplication and democracy
• focusing on women as the "window" to the family

ACAT’s values are based on

• Christian principles and motivation
• Excellence in work ethic and morality
• Equality of all people
• Good governance, management and administration
• Responsible use of all resources
• Commitment to staff development, employment equity and affirmative action practices.

The status and structure of ACAT

• ACAT has over 25 years experience in the design, implementation and management of rural development programmes.
• ACAT is a non profit Trust registered under Section 18A of Income Tax Act.
• ACAT networks with NGOs and government departments.
• Local, national and foreign funding is received.

Where does ACAT operate?
ACAT operates in 17 areas of 30km radius each in the deep rural areas of KwaZulu-Natal (in 7 of the 11 Magisterial Districts). ACAT’s centre is at Lidgetton – near Howick and Pietermaritzburg. Click to map

Progress
ACAT’s programmes have impacted hundreds of rural families in a meaningful and lasting way. Benefits include :

• Increased household food security, income and self esteem.
• Role models in sustainable agriculture and enterprises.
• Improved soil fertility, low cost food production, money is circulated within the community, business skills are acquired, loans are provided, and work opportunities are provided.
• Farmer and entrepreneurial groups, co-ops and village banks provide mutual support, joint savings, bulk buying, marketing, effective lobbying, accessible and affordable banking services and much more.
• Vocationally based accredited education and training including literacy and numeracy competencies.