OUR VISION IS TO TRANSFORM OUR COMMUNITY USING AN HOLISTIC APPROACH
Vastfontein has a long-standing track record with up to date tax clearance, ICT B-BBEE certification, registered NPC with article 18A and PBO status which ensures that donations made by our customers are tax-exempt and their B-BBEE contribution gives them the points they require. The contributions our customers make brings hope to those in need and assists them to become self-sustainable.
Our unique story of faith and obedience and continuous improvement is inimitable and rare which has a generational impact and cannot easily be substituted. However, the model is duplicatable and adjustable for different types of communities without having to compromise on the foundational values and intent. Our access to people in need, relationship with community leaders and our well-structured service offerings supports the goals of both Government and Customers who have a desire to provide funding and resources.
Through our efforts, we contribute towards breaking systemic poverty in our country and expanding the Kingdom of God.
We render the following services to our community: Education, Health Care, Social Welfare, Food Parcels, Care Homes for orphans and vulnerable children; Occupation Therapy; Play Therapy, Counselling and Psychological assessment and support. Our Skills Development focuses on:
Training: Accredited Agriculture, ICT and Small Business development
Mentorship: All training is followed by mentoring.
Enterprise Development: We help our students to establish a business that can become part of your supply chain.
Learnerships: We provide and facilitate workplace learnerships in the educational, agricultural and ICT sectors.
SED FUNDING IS USED TO SUPPORT OUR ONGOING EXPANSION OF SERVICES TO OUR COMMUNITY
Our community demographics are:
SKILLS DEVELOPMENT: ACCREDITED SKILLS DEVELOPMENT IN AGRICULTURE, ICT, SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND HEALTH AND SAFETY
ENTERPRISE AND SUPPLIER DEVELOPMENT: OUR FOCUS IS ON CREATING SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES OR GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT FOR THE UNEMPLOYED THROUGH SKILLS DEVELOPMENT, MENTORSHIP AND LEARNERSHIPS.
Vastfontein Community Transformation Agriculture skills development overview
Vastfontein has a vision to equip unemployed youth in the art of food security by giving them an opportunity to participate in an agriculture business in their own community. With the training we aim to assist a group of unemployed youth in developing an Agriculture Hub where they have the opportunity to participate in a learnership to learn to grow and sell produce into the local community.
We aim to create new age farmers that can use technology to leverage opportunities as rural smaller scale farmers to successfully compete in premium niche/organic markets with more established agricultural supply chains in a net-positive sustainable way.
Depending on the environment we focus them on open land farming, food tunnels and hydroponic systems. Once the farming is established a further inclusive business model is developed to start various small businesses using the produce to make products that can be sold.
In our Agriculture skills development and Learnership program, we select 20 unemployed youth from our surrounding area to participate in an Agriculture skills development and learnership program. During the program they get the necessary agriculture skills, practical farming skills as well as business development skills.
Because our focus is not only on the agriculture skills but also on soft skills like self management and workplace behaviour as well as lots of practical application of the skills they acquire, our students start gaining an understanding of what is required from them in the workplace.
We would like to implement a phase 2 learnership program where we focus on business and entrepreneurship as well as various inclusive business models which will empower some student start their own small business enterprise.
As part of the program we would like to partner with funders to install tunnels and hot houses as well as an office / shop where farmers can procure implements, seedlings and products for farming and also sell produce, furthermore we would like to put up a facility where produce can be processes and even used in food production as an extended business opportunity.
To protect the produce from the harsh environmental elements and give us all year-round crops like to install greenhouse echo-tunnels of 24 metres each (3,5m wide and 2,2m high) – each tunnel costs R32 900.
One of the tunnels is used to produce seedlings for students as well as to be sold for the community.
Focus is also put on producing compost that can be used and sold.
We would like to teach our students the value of hydroponics by implementing 32 1,5m hydroponic systems in some of the greenhouse tunnels.
These systems allow for no soil born diseases or parasites as well growing crops even where the soil is not very fertile.
Each 1,5m with 14 Pot Recirculation system costs R12 450 which includes a sophisticated PH & EC meter.
Fencing and Water Tanks are required for the area used, cost is determined by the type of fencing and the size of the tanks.
A two-wheel walk behind tractor with plough and tiller as well as shovels and rakes is required estimated at about R40 000.
Partnerships to establish Agri-Hub’s
To enable us to run the program we rely on corporate partnerships who have a passion for agriculture and a vision for our countries unemployed youth to become contributors to the economy. Long term partnerships assist us in supporting the learners over a period of two to three years to ensure their small business is successful.
The cost per month per learner is R7000 which includes all training, mentorship and a stipend per fortnight per learner. Funding for the above mentioned requirements are separate once of items.
ICT Learnership program
Vastfontein has a vision to equip unemployed youth for a career in ICT Technical support by giving them an opportunity to participate in an ICT learnership at our Hammanskraal site. Unemployed youth will be given the opportunity to participate in a learnership where they receive comprehensive ICT and personal as well as business management skills while also working as desktop, server and network technicians, computer literacy trainers and small business entrepreneurs.
We aim to develop well rounded young people who can enter the ICT work-market with confidence and practical skills.
The program starts with basic training. During the one-year learnership program the students will start building and selling pc’s and other computer equipment, they will also support the business people who frequent the business hub and be deployed to support small business and individuals in the area. The students will also be required to assist high school children with homework and assignments during the afternoons.
ICT equipment
20 Laptops for training as well as a good 4-in-1 printer, scanner, copier and fax will be required as well as furniture (workbenches and chairs). Cost estimate R 200 000.00.
Furthermore, to establish internet line of site from our Fibre Optic network at our head office in Vastfontein is estimated at R180 000.00.
ICT Skills development and Learnership program
In our ICT skills development and Learnership program, we select 20 unemployed youth from our surrounding area to participate in an ICT skills development and learnership program. During the program they get the necessary ICT skills, practical technical skills as well as business development skills.
Because our focus is not only on the ICT skills but also on soft skills like self management and workplace behaviour as well as lots of practical application of the skills they acquire, our students start gaining an understanding of what is required from them in the workplace.
During phase 2 training we focus on technical skills required to work in various ICT technical support areas as well as business and entrepreneurship which will empower some student to start their own small enterprise business, while others will be ready for gainful employment.
The cost of the learnership program is R8500 per learner per month which includes a monthly stipend for each learner.
Vastfontein Community Transformation is committed to transforming the local community and in particular would like to see more of our youth equipped for life and economical self sustainability. Through our Skills development and Learnership programs of critical skills like Agriculture and ICT, this becomes a reality for many.