The Foundation’s Community Empowerment Projects stem from expertise within the community, and are nurtured and developed locally. Communities are encouraged to train and support each other through capacity building – eliminating the need for highly paid specialists or staff. This in turn allows for communities to have sole ownership of projects, making them self-sustaining and independent, whilst also promoting community spirit.

The projects are based on a micro-finance model, where the initial investment is paid back as part of the business plan and then used to either expand the current project or alternatively pass the capital onto another group or community to start a new project, on a revolving funding basis.

The Foundation also uses the programmes as a platform to provide education to members of the community about how to run a successful business and how to use environmentally sustainable practices.

Video: A brief look at some of our Community Empowerment projects: