RE TLA HLOLA TENTS & CHAIRS RENTAL
VAST Funded Income Generation Project in Butha Buthe
2007
In August 2006, Peace Corps sent out an announcement in the monthly newsletter soliciting proposals for PEPFAR/VAST funded projects to be facilitated by PCVs in collaboration with community groups. I approached the chairman of the Butha Buthe PLWHA support group, Re Tla Hlola, and told him that there was an opportunity for financial and technical assistance if the group was interested. The chairman, Ntate Machefo Thobileng, came back to me after several days and told me that the group wanted to apply for a grant for an income generation project.
I asked Ntate Thobileng to meet with the other members of the group to come up with the project idea and that I would then help them write the grant application. I stressed the fact that I would only act as a facilitator and technical advisor and that I would NOT be doing the project FOR them. Ntate Thobileng and the rest of the group said that they understood and indicated that they would like to go ahead and proceed with applying for the grant.
I assisted the group in working on the various components of the grant application in an organized and structured manner, setting up a schedule of meetings, agendas and a timeline for completion of gathering the needed information. The application was completed and submitted (see attached) on 25 September 2006. The purpose of the project was to generate income for the group through the rental of tents and chairs to the community at large. One of the conditions of the grant called for part of the income to be used for purchase of vegetable seeds to be planted in order to provide nutritional support for members, their families and orphans in their care
CHED APCD Lisa Jordan and Program Assistant Jimi Machai came to Butha Buthe on 15 November 2006 to meet with me and group members for clarification on some of the grant application components. At the conclusion of the meeting, it was requested that the group revise some portions of the original application and resubmit as soon as possible. The group was also informed that additional funds were available (over and above the original $2,500). The group met the following day to discuss and agree on changes which would enable the project to be completed by June 2007 and also revised the original budget upwards to include some additional support. The revised grant was submitted on 21 November and subsequently approved by Peace Corps on 15 December.
A 1 ½ day workshop was conducted on 21-22 December 2006. Agendas and other related documents are attached. The workshop was based on the Peace Corps “Project Design and Management Workshop Training Manual” and was attended by 25 members of Re Tla Hlola. In addition to learning basic planning and goal setting skills, the group agreed to a management structure (see attached chart) and also agreed to voluntary participation in an investment plan and its terms and conditions. By the conclusion of the workshop on Day 2, each attendee was either selected or volunteered for specific tasks and responsibilities for the project. The workshop concluded with a celebratory braai.
The elected Project Management Team (PMT) commenced weekly meetings in January to get the project off the ground. Two tents were ordered from Motebang Tents of Hlotse, Leribe and 100 chairs were purchased from a local shop. The entire Re Tla Hlola group meets every other Thursday and now the first item on the agenda is an update on the project and discussion of any related issues, challenges, successes, etc. The tents took approximately 6 weeks to be made and delivered. A small building across from the Post Office has been loaned by the District Administrator for the operation of the business. A sign which was made by some of the members was erected in front of the building. I helped set up a bookkeeping system and set up a sub-account of my Bank of Lesotho account to keep the project funds separate. Photocopying of advertisement flyers was donated by Greenlight Computers and the flyers were distributed to RTH members for further distribution. Members marked the back of each chair with “RTH” in white paint. It was agreed that all available members would sign up for volunteer staffing of the business Monday thru Friday from 8:30 – 4:30. Procedures were established for the rental and return of chairs and tents, a contract was drawn up and all members were trained on operation of the business.
On March 8, 2007 RTH officially opened for business to the community. Business has been up and down (see attached Budget with actual figures through June 2007). Staffing has been a challenge with various reasons for members either not signing up for shifts or not showing up. This issue was discussed at a regular RTH meeting, 3 ladies volunteered to staff the business on a full-time basis in return for also being allowed to conduct their sewing/tailoring business on the premises. The group agreed that this was an acceptable solution. Despite this agreement, there are still staffing issues. Another issue which the group is trying to resolve is that of securing a more suitable building for operation of the business. The current building that they occupy is in poor condition and they are trying to secure better space in the library building, however response by the DA’s office has been slow and reluctant.
On 27 May, the group planted a winter garden (peas) using seeds purchased through income from the project. The garden plot is being rented to the group by one of the fellow members for R800/year. It is located in Nqabeni just north of the Butha Buthe camptown and is situated next to a small stream providing a constant supply of water. The seeds have germinated and it is hoped that by the end of August the group will begin harvesting the vegetables.
PCV Brianna Buehler of the 2006/2008 ED group has been attending some of the meetings and has agreed to continue to make herself available to the group for advice and guidance. We have met with the PMT to set up a budget for the remainder of the 2007 year. Re Tla Hlola has an existing savings account with Bank of Lesotho and is setting up a sub-account to handle the money for the project.
PROJECT CONTACT INFORMATION
· Ntate Machefo Thobileng, RTH Chairman and member of Project Management Team, 58848425
· ‘M’e Agnes Khabisi, member of Project Management Team, 63134895
· ‘M’e Makhaketla Motsamai, member of Project Management Team, 58074571
· ‘M’e Halieo Nteko, team leader for garden project, 63136454
· Brianna “Kabello” Buehler, PCV, 58584150
For further information and/or questions regarding this project, please feel free to contact Elizabeth Cohen via email at
Respectfully submitted,
Elizabeth S. Cohen
PCV Butha Buthe
CHED 2005-2007
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Re Tla Hlola Project Page 3 6/18/2007