Causes & Sustainability

OUR THEMATIC AREAS

Wandutso Trust recognises that, on a daily basis, families/households and communities in the target areas are inevitably faced with pressing needs from different pillars and angles of their lives. They have to deal with different needs and cope with various shocks. Hence, the holistic approach taken towards sustainable rural community development and transformation by Wandutso Trust acknowledges the existence of these intertwined challenges. This interconnectedness is demonstrated through an example like Wandutso Trust’s small vehicle ferrying farmers to the clinic during emergency situations.

To achieve its objectives, Wandutso Trust shall work on the following thematic areas, within the framework of climate change and in alignment with the National Development Strategies (NDS1 and NDS2).

Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Security

We promote and foster sustainable and nutrition-sensitive agri-food system approaches that care for and conserve nature, address the negative impacts of climate change, diversify and support healthier diets, and foster economic opportunities. We embrace nutritious underutilised and traditional crops and foods including foods collected from the wild. We also promote nutrition initiatives that are food-based and facilitate exchange, learning and action towards innovative food production, preparation and healthy consumption. Our approaches are embraced in agroecology.

Education

Quality basic education is the foundation to transforming children into successful future professionals, intellects and role models. Wandutso Trust strives to close the education access gap in rural communities, and in particular for the vulnerable groups. For the little dears of Ward 13 communities, we aim to improve access to good quality early childhood development facilities within reach while providing creative learning spaces for all ages. We seek to help create an educational environment where every child can find their space and develop their pro-development talents and skills optimally from early childhood stages.

Vocational Training

Prosperous youth and mature citizens are fundamental to societal development and sustainable livelihoods. Wandutso Trust helps to create opportunities and a platform for tertiary vocational training, coaching and professional development to enhance the economic empowerment of youth and mature women and men alike. The Trust’s approach, through hands-on skills capacity development and knowledge-building in different fields, benefits young people, many of whom struggle to find suitable employment or income generating options to support themselves.

Environmental Protection and Conservation

We care for environmental health. We strive to contribute to sustainable renewable (and clean) energy development for the communities and help to enhance the quality of life for women who often travel for long distances to collect firewood amid other time demands from family and societal chores. We contribute to promoting mutually beneficial sustainable natural resources management, reduced land degradation and pollution on farms and the general landscape, and encourage technologies that foster adaptation and resilience to climate change and other shocks faced by the communities. Sustainable exploitation of water resources to integrate productive and income generating options is encouraged.

Employment Creation

Local employment creation is core in Wandutso Trust’s development objectives. We strive to support small local startups and business incubations for income generating projects and initiatives, particularly spearheaded by groups of women and youth, across the thematic areas. These span across the various thematic areas of the Trust, including agro-based primary and secondary processing as well as retail initiatives.

Health

Contributing to improved access to good public health and medical facilities and services by all – with a focus on women, children, the elderly and those with chronic conditions – and enhancing public health and wellness (including mental) standards for the communities is one of our main goals. Water and good sanitation are of paramount importance to achieving good public health – they are part-and-parcel of Wandutso Trust’s thematic focus areas. We contribute to enhancing community recreational, sports and art facilities which can provide the elderly, children and other community groups with the opportunity to be physically active in a way that can contribute to development capacity, longevity, healthier ageing and wellness.

How we work

Wandutso Trust collaborates with individual and institution-based actors who share similar visions and rural development goals to harness synergies and resources. With even the smallest contributions from these and other suitable actors towards Wandutso Trust’s cause, we can effectively support many people in our target areas to protect and improve their livelihoods and well-being.
We apply co-creation and other participatory approaches guided by principles of good partnership together with the ‘Ubuntu’ at all levels. Wandutso Trust encourages target communities to contribute to initiatives through various possible ways to strengthen ownership.

Sustainability Strategy

Wandutso Trust’s sustainability strategy is anchored on 6 pillars:

Philanthropy begins at home: begin with familiar areas and initiatives to reduce the learning curve and costs; start small and learn.
Holistic development: address key pillars that make a household/community functional; embrace income generating activities too.
Collaborate with strategic national development programmes and existing community level initiatives for synergy, complementarity, resource-use efficiency, and impact.
The 5 Co-s: Co-create, co-implement, cost-share, co-evaluate, and co-learn with the communities for ownership.
Promote utilisation and conservation of local and renewable resources.
Remain dedicated and motivated, and focused on the Trust’s Mission and Objectives.