The Clover Mamas share their knowledge, aiming to provide work opportunities to their communities while they continue to provide services; from centres for the elderly to community food gardens and salons.

Here are the achievements of 'Clover Mama Afrika' in 2017:

Passionate mamas

Mama Rosie Mashale was awarded a top ten placement in CNN’s Heroes: An All-Star Tribute.

Clover Mama Afrika project founder, professor Elain Vlok, says, "Mama Rosie is one of our first four Clover Mamas appointed in 2004. She is a special, kind-hearted woman that we both admire and respect. Sustainability has always been a key driver for her. She is deserving of this award."

Mama Rosie founded Baphumelele, which functions as both an education centre and a home for abandoned or orphaned children and children living with HIV. Listen to her interview on East Coast Radio here, or watch her video clip on CNN.

An award-winning initiative

Apart from the Mama’s success, the ‘Clover Mama Afrika Project’ reeled in some awards of their own. The initiative was announced as a finalist in the ‘Play your part’ category of the South African Premier Business Awards, with winners being announced on Tuesday, 30 January.

It also secured the renowned Trialogue Strategic Corporate Social Investment (CSI) Award, won for women with the Gender Mainstream Women Empowerment In The Community Award, and secured the PMR Diamond Arrow Award for the 10th consecutive year, all in 2017.

Skills training that teaches how to fish, rather than providing a fish

At the heart of the initiative is skills training and transfer. During 2017, the initiative facilitated 19 skills training sessions and trained a total of 95 beneficiaries. Since 2004, that’s 353 training sessions and 2 066 beneficiaries.

In 2017, skills training focused on sewing, quilting, advanced cooking and baking, on-site bread baking with Siyabonga Africa, as well as art skills development. Clover mamas then further transferred their skills to an additional 621 people. Training in cooking and baking increased in 2017, indicating a growing demand for catering services in communities.

Professor Vlok concludes, "Each year we are surprised and satisfied with the difference the initiative makes. We start 2018 with a fresh perspective and the wonderful ‘Smarties Week’; an event that brings together our mamas for a full week of training. What better way to welcome the new year than with new skills." 

For more information, visit www.clovermamaafrika.com