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Ukonga among women in rural spaces
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Empowering women is at the heart of sustainable development. Ukonga among women in rural spaces: A Nelson Mandela Children's Fund‑inspired community project showcases how women’s self‑help groups in Eshowe within the uMlalazi Local Municipality in KwaZulu‑Natal, South Africa, have risen as driving forces of change, transforming lives, strengthening families, fostering financial independence and building resilience in rural South African communities. When the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund was founded in 1995, Nelson Mandela contributed from his own pocket towards establishing an organisation that continues to exist in his honour for nearly 30 years. In the same spirit of self‑reliance and discipline, the Fund introduced the Sustainable Livelihoods Project, implemented in partnership with the KwaZulu‑Natal Christian Council and their community facilitators, supporting these women’s self‑help groups that encourage saving, collective action and sustainable livelihoods. These initiatives enable women to overcome poverty, access education and health care and develop entrepreneurship skills. The project has directly contributed to strengthening families through community‑based initiatives that improve the care and support of infants, children, youth, expectant mothers and caregivers. Despite limited resources, training and logistical challenges, communities have built homes using locally‑produced cement blocks and initiated income‑generating projects, such as poultry farming and vegetable cultivation and trading to sustain their livelihoods. This book combines rigorous qualitative and quantitative research from scholars at the University of Zululand, telling the stories of the lived experiences of these women in rural KwaZulu‑Natal, offering real-world evidence of the positive socioeconomic impact. It is a vital resource for policymakers, practitioners, researchers and all who are committed to supporting women’s empowerment, sustainable community development and reducing dependency on state grants. Above all, the book tells a story of the power of collaboration between communities, civil society and academia, creating lasting change for women, children and families living in rural South African communities.
This book is included in DOAB.
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Keywords
- Community development
- Department of Agriculture and Rural Development
- Entrepreneurship
- Eshowe
- financial inclusion
- Financial independence
- Financial resilience
- gender equality
- Income-generating initiatives
- KwaKhoza
- KwaZulu Natal Christian Council
- LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
- Mombeni
- Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund
- Nkanini
- Poverty alleviation
- R2 savings
- Rotating savings credit association
- Rural spaces
- Savings groups
- Savings Mobilisation Programme
- Self-help groups
- social work
- Sustainable Livelihoods Project
- thema EDItEUR::J Society and Social Sciences::JB Society and culture: general::JBF Social and ethical issues
- thema EDItEUR::J Society and Social Sciences::JH Sociology and anthropology::JHB Sociology
- thema EDItEUR::J Society and Social Sciences::JK Social services and welfare, criminology::JKS Social welfare and social services::JKSN Social work
- Ukonga
- UMlalazi Municipality
- Women’s economic empowerment
Links
DOI: 10.4102/aosis.2025.BK565Editions