The Clover Mama Afrika – Ukwakha Isizwe (Building and nurturing our nation) project is a national social upliftment project which seeks to assist and support communities at grassroots level in an enabling and empowering manner so they can help themselves and those around them. The project’s main involvement is with women who look after abused, abandoned, orphaned and HIV/Aids children as well as the elderly.

In South Africa we have many such Mamas. They reflect humility, caring and strength and are respected by their peers. These Mamas hold the keys to the secrets of yesteryear. They tell the stories of the past and are the points of call in times of need. Not only are they aware of the needs of their communities, but they actively address those needs in whatever way possible. In their townships, they unassumingly take charge of protecting, nurturing and educating their young and take care of the abandoned senior citizens.

At Clover, we have the commitment to handle the Clover Mama Afrika Initiative; financially and otherwise. We have the infrastructure and proven track record in place to handle and, moreover, continue our commitment. In fact, the project has proved to be a tremendous success – and is a stable, well-run social investment programme of which the finances are independently audited by Ernst & Young.

But it is not enough. The scope of the project and the challenges facing South Africa are simply too big for Clover to carry alone. And so, in the spirit of ubuntu – of embracing humanity – we ask you to join us on this road through hope and upliftment to sustainable success.

While Africa is still a land of hunger and need, Clover Mama Afrika is a story of hard truths and soft touches…. Of an initiative that’s out of Africa and fully in place… Of money that’s not simply disappearing into a bottomless pit, but helping people rise above their circumstances.

To date every aspect of the Clover Mama Afrika initiative has surpassed all expectations and each success is a testament to the hard work, dedication and enormous price of all involved.

Training and Skills Development

Cooking and Baking Courses
Teaming up with Food Creations and Foodlink Cookery School, Clover sponsors cooking and baking courses where members are taught basic cooking skills as well as advanced courses and more specialised courses such as biscuit and cake baking. These courses have been the inspiration for profitable self-help projects for many of the Mamas, with some starting catering services to target their communities and even the corporate market. The courses also provide the costing of meals, ingredient selection, dish presentation and cooking theory as well as high emphases on personal hygiene, food hygiene and cleanliness of kitchen and appliances. The starter kit for these courses includes a Kenwood Major Mixer and general kitchen accessories. Some centres are also given new stoves and ovens.

Bread Oven Project
This is two-week training with Siyabonga Africa whose objective is teaching people the art of bread making. Bread is the staple diet for many people in South Africa and this project gives the Mamas the opportunity of feeding their members as well as generating a good income. Every centre is equipped with a mini bakery consisting of gas operated oven, gas cylinder, workbench, prover, mixer as well as start up ingredients to bake 100 loaves. Further training is also provided to expand on this project by baking popular confectionery goods such as scones, biscuits, banana loaves and much more.

Sewing Project
Clover and Bernina SA have devised a beginner's sewing course aimed at fulfilling the unique needs of communities. Course members are taught how to operate sewing machines to make tracksuits, school uniforms and tablecloths. They also learn to use an overlocker to do more intricate work. An advanced course has also been developed and is attended by those who want to learn more about sewing techniques. The starter kit includes a Bernina sewing machine and an overlocker and receives off-cuts on a regular basis. Amazing items such as tracksuits and T.shirts are made from the off-cuts.

Food Gardens
This intensive two-day training course with partner Food Gardens Foundation and Cobus Smit, teaches Clover Mamas to grow vegetables by optimising minimum space with limited resources. Course topics include water use and conservation, nutrition and pest control without poison. The course is aimed not only at enabling the Mamas, but to empower entire communities. This is achieved by training the unemployed and providing them with seed packs and garden tools to start their own organic gardens with a view to expanding, generating an income and becoming self-sufficient.

Quilting
This course has been identified as a beneficial skill to have in the Western and Northern Cape communities. Facilitator Doortjie Gersbach of Montagu has provides these Mamas with beginners, intermediate and advanced courses. Trained members are in turn empowering other members of their respective communities and have a production line. These exclusive made items are also being marketed to the overseas market.

Crocheting Workshops
A three-day crocheting workshop presented at Clover's Roodepoort head office enables care centres and homes to empower other community members to generate an income in a fun and trendy way. Course members are taught to make shoes and handbags, but individual creativity has led members to also make belts, hats and many other fashionable crocheting items. The starter kit includes crochet wool and a needle, shoe soles and leather straps.

Added Value Workshops/Self-Help Projects

Vodacom Phone Shops and Mobile Public Phones
After a long-awaited feasibility study, Soweto and Ennerdale were each awarded a fully equipped Vodacom container comprising five telephone lines. Besides providing the respective communities with telephone services, these containers also provide a source of income to the centres operating them. All other care centres countrywide have received a mobile public telephone that enables them to generate income and serves as a cheaper way of communication for the centre.

Save a Child – First Aid Course
This course is facilitated by St John's Ambulance Services and has been implemented nationally. It provides essential knowledge on what should be done in the event of minor burns, cuts, respiratory problems and other medical situations arising with young children. This project has come very useful to many centres and has since saved many lives.

Basic Finance Management
Due to the sustainable growth experienced with the skills implemented, it was evident that the Mamas needed guidance and assistance in managing these skills projects. It was also an opportunity to emphasise the importance of "Evaluation Process" in order for Clover Mama Afrika to maintain its prime objective of sustainable growth. Currently all skills training provided include basic business management and marketing sessions.

Beadwork
Clover Mama Afrika supports in supplying workshops and beading accessories to centres that are actively involved with beadwork.

Art workshop
A one-day art course was introduced in the Eastern Cape with five Mamas participating. The result was beyond any expectations and the Mamas were surprised at their own talent. From the feedback received, it was unanimously decided to offer this course to all Mamas. This talent has proven to be a fun way to raise funds as well as therapeutic for the disabled in their care.

Flower arrangement
The flower arrangement workshop was offered due to the great demand in various communities. Many of them caters for various functions such as weddings, christenings and alas funerals (some centres experience up to two funerals per week). There was a need for them to create affordable flower arrangements. These workshops are facilitated by Stéfanie Bocherdts of Johannesburg and Gerda Tuffin of Cape Town. Both of who has empowered hundreds of members to learn the skill and has many success stories behind them.