15 NGOs Have United to Transform Alexandra!

Photo Credit: Khulisa Social Solutions

15 NGOs have united to transform Alexandra in Gauteng, tackling problems like crime and violence with an airtight plan of action that’s giving the community hope:

Alexandra, South Africa (06 September 2024) — Alexandra in Gauteng is an area that has long been associated with challenges. Crime, violence and a myriad of other consequences stemming from socio-economic inequality have impacted the community there—many of whom want a better life for their children and neighbours but haven’t known how to make this a reality.

While the road to a brighter future for Alex has certainly been long and winding, several NGOs have put Alex at the forefront of their focus.

Khulisa Social Solutions (whose Managing Director, Dr Lesley Ann van Selm, recently went on to win the 2024 Women’s Lifetime Achievement Award, largely for her work with Khulisa) has been on the frontlines of transforming Alex. This is through an airtight plan of action, focused on holistic and sustainable progress that won’t just help the current generation but many to come.

An award-winning NGO, Khulisa has a long history of empowering communities and fostering social cohesion through innovative, sustainability-focused programmes empowering over 30,000 individuals through various community programs. Part of this is their commitment to the people of Alex. But, as Khulisa knows, no NGO is an island.

15 NGOs Have United for Alex

Knowing the power of collaborative efforts, 15 NGOs have teamed up to address the challenges Alex faces with the support of Khulisa’s capacity-building initiatives to help guide their path!

The programme provides the NGOs with important pillars of training; namely in governance, financial management and community engagement. It also includes conflict resolution training, mediation services, and workshops.

The Programme’s Track Record:

87% of NGOs implemented conflict resolution training, reducing internal conflicts and enhancing community peacebuilding.
67% adopted mediation services, helping to resolve community disputes more effectively.
60% engaged in capacity-building workshops, leading to more efficient operations!

The Impact:

73% of NGOs have expanded their services or programs, reaching more community members.
27% have increased their funding, enabling them to enhance their impact and sustainability.
95% of NGOs reported improved stakeholder relationships, strengthening ties with community members, government and the private sector
82% saw significant improvements in internal staff skills, driving greater operational efficiency and creativity
67% developed new partnerships, creating a robust network of support and resource-sharing within Alexandra.

For Alex, a key puzzle piece of this transformative process is the Alex Peace-making Project, which focuses on fostering understanding through dialogue circles that are facilitated.

This way, community members can share their concerns and experiences with each other; building trust and diluting conflict that can often stem from misunderstandings.

119 dialogue circles have been underway and engaged over 900 individuals.

Beyond this, the 15 NGOs have expanded their impact through other activities, including environmental projects (clean-ups, gardening projects and recycling initiatives), education programs (focused on everything from life skills to music lessons for the next generation), health and wellness campaigns, creative and recreational activities and sustainable livelihoods like urban farming and soup kitchens.

While a wealth of positive impact has been made, ongoing support is crucial. As such, Khulisa calls on stakeholders, funders and the broader community to rally behind these united NGOs and get in touch to offer support via [email protected].