BOTTOM-UP MODEL TO ERADICATE POVERTY Consultation on Bottom-Up Model to Eradicate Poverty 21 August 2014 AFM Naledi, Soweto FRANK CHIKANE

BOTTOM-UP MODEL TO ERADICATE POVERTY DEVELOPMENT OF THE VISION Grappling with the concept of being ‘church in community’ (A Holistic Gospel). Starting from home (Naledi AFM): A perfect sample (reflection) of the community where the Church is. Reaching out: tradition approach (x); Holistic approach: excitement; risks; fears!

BOTTOM-UP MODEL TO ERADICATE POVERTY GOVERNMENT EXPERIENCE FLASHBACK Post 1994 Democratic Government’s commitment to eradicate poverty (RDP, Housing, social grants, free medical services for children and pregnant women; free education for first eight years; etc.) but was not eradicating poverty in land of plenty.

BOTTOM-UP MODEL TO ERADICATE POVERTY GOVERNMENT EXPERIENCE FLASHBACK Research (women): Chile and Tunisia; Government’s War on Poverty strategy & Programme (2008):14 yrs into new SA; Focus on family (household) & not general approach to dealing with poverty.

BOTTOM-UP MODEL TO ERADICATE POVERTY GOVERNMENT EXPERIENCE FLASHBACK Determination that focus on family can’t be done by Government alone: Need civil society with the local Government as the sphere of implementation. Four years later not much success (20% success rate): Implementation failures.

BOTTOM-UP MODEL TO ERADICATE POVERTY GOVERNMENT CHALLENGE Reality: Gap between ‘good’ Government policies & intentions and capacity/ability to implement (management; skills; technical expertise; appointments; corruption; etc. → Failure). Consequences: ‘Go with the stream’!

BOTTOM-UP MODEL TO ERADICATE POVERTY ROLE OF THE CHURCH Critique, in the name of being prophetic, without doing anything (armchair theologians: Mandela’s comments!); Going with the stream (conform); Praxis: Critical engagement/partnership!

BOTTOM-UP MODEL TO ERADICATE POVERTY STANDING IN THE GAP Using Ezekiel’s prophetic logic (Ezekiel 22:30) “… searching for a Church … that can stand in the gap … for the land (country/people)

BOTTOM-UP MODEL TO ERADICATE POVERTY OPPORTUNITY FOR STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP Church rooted with the people: where the people are/proximity (Ward 14, D1 case) but does not have enough resources. Government has resources but is far from where the people are: Its reach limited!

BOTTOM-UP MODEL TO ERADICATE POVERTY THE CONCEPT Complementary relationship with Gov: By doing what Gov. can’t do: Be ‘Foot Soldiers’ to reach out to the poor/people. Do what church/civil society can do best: (spiritual, counselling, support, care, etc.). Enable Gov. to do what it should do.

BOTTOM-UP MODEL TO ERADICATE POVERTY THE CONCEPT Move families from poverty to sustainable livelihoods through three stages: Immediate Basic needs (Food, clothes, wheelchairs, etc.): Indigent policies, documentation, grants, RDP housing, etc. Empowerment …

BOTTOM-UP MODEL TO ERADICATE POVERTY THE CONCEPT Empowerment (Education, training, skills development, entrepreneurship skills, etc.): Identify ‘champions’ (potential change agents) & focus on them. Independent living: Entrepreneurs; workers; professionals; etc.

BOTTOM-UP MODEL TO ERADICATE POVERTY CONSULTATIVE PROCESSES Started from home (Naledi Assembly); Churches, civil society, community (D1); Government (National, Provincial, and Local Government); Councillors; and Public meeting (Naledi Hall).

BOTTOM-UP MODEL TO ERADICATE POVERTY A PILOT PROJECT Trained ±100 volunteer ‘Foot Soldiers’ (Mar-May 2012); Launched Project publicly (May 2012). Deployment: ‘Foot Soldiers’ visits to household, profiled them, dealt with urgent matters; refer the rest to Gov.

BOTTOM-UP MODEL TO ERADICATE POVERTY DESIGN Strong Civil society group/entity as the driver of the Programme. Committed & trained volunteers to act as ‘Foot Soldiers’. Implementation at Ward level: Ward Committees formed (CDWs & Councillors).

BOTTOM-UP MODEL TO ERADICATE POVERTY DESIGN Full participation of Government throughout the three spheres of Government (WOP Programme). Support for a Regional Coordinating Office with staff to manage Programme effectively.

BOTTOM-UP MODEL TO ERADICATE POVERTY LESSONS LEARNED Church not ready to stretch itself beyond its traditional role: Preach, baptise, serve holy communion, etc./weakness! Gov. is not structured in a way that can enable it to engage in such a programme to eradicate poverty/Weaknesses!

BOTTOM-UP MODEL TO ERADICATE POVERTY A RENEWAL PROGRAMME Change the way the Church thinks about God and about itself & its role; Change the way in which Government thinks about itself and its functions/role. Build a new society that functions differently (Transformation/Renewal Project where Church acts as a catalyst).

BOTTOM-UP MODEL TO ERADICATE POVERTY CREDIBLE PROPHETIC WITNESS (Critical engagement with the Government for last twelve months; our experience with the MEC for Gauteng Social Development Dept, Faith Mazibuko, last Sunday & results)