QASA Sustainability Workshop for Self Help Centre’s

During November 2009, QASA delivered a Sustainability Workshop for the QASA Self Help Centre’s at a venue in Johannesburg. The workshop was funded by the Momentum Fund. QASA is very fortunate to have the support of the Momentum Fund for capacity building ventures.

During this time of economic change, sustainability has become a key area of focus for many non profit and disabled peoples organizations. Compounding this is the fact that sustainability is an ongoing challenge for the Self Help Centre’s.

QASA National Director, Ari Seirlis handing Manthipi Molamu-Rahloa from the Department of Social Development a token of gratitude for her contribution.

Eight regional QuadPara Associations are affiliated to QASA. There are 14 Self Help Centre’s affiliated to QASA, through the regional associations. These centre’s are independent living units and villages housing spinal cord injured, with a unique recipe whereby the residents write their own rules, and choose their own staff and house mates. They all function independently and develop their own projects for sustainability. The Self Help Centre’s provide a place where paraplegics and quadriplegics can lead independent lives, hopefully as a stepping stone to people being able to buy their own homes and live entirely independently.

The workshop was the first event of its kind for the association, a gathering of the Self Help Centre’s to network, workshop challenges and share ideas. Two representatives from each Self Help Centre attended and the first day was dedicated to introductions and discussions amongst the Self Help Centre’s. Day two’s agenda was jam-packed with four representatives from the Department of Social Development and two representatives from the Department of Housing, Special Needs.

Workshop delegates Dikeledi Elizabeth Shupinyaneng from the Jean Webber Home, Pauline Mofokeng and Irene Chukudu from Tokologo Self Help Centre.

After each session their were facilitated panel discussions where Self Help Centre’s were able to direct relevant questions to the Department representatives. After lunch, Amor Malan (Director Shangri-la Self Help Centre) shared lessons learned in sustainability planning form her experience with Shangri-la Self Help Centre. Vernon Openshaw, a Business Strategist (Coetzer & Associates) addressed the issues of Sustainable Planning & Good Governance. Anton Engelbrecht (QASA Management) also stressed the importance of sustainable planning. Philip Coetzer, a Social Entrepreneur and Vernon Openshaw a Business also presented on relevant topics.

Allon Riaz, the CEO of Razicorp, Valerie Flanagan from Enablis and Roxanne Broughton from Green Office all presented small business ideas and opportunities that Self Help Centre’s can implement to generate a revenue stream. A representative from the National Lotteries Board, Chickey Mofet also presented to the Self Help Centre’s, giving insight into workings of the National Lotteries.

The workshop was very well received and the Self Help Centre’s were grateful for training, networking, ideas sharing and new knowledge. It was resolved that the Self Help Centre’s would form a Self Help Centre Forum for the purpose of networking, sharing ideas and brainstorming challenges.

QASA is committed to sustainability and development of regions and Self Help Centre’s and plans to continue to run workshops to help develop QASA members and the long term sustainability of the disability sector. The next workshop will be held in March / April 2010.