The Proud2b Me Foundation has embarked on a unique nation-building campaign themed, "Responsibility, It Starts With Me", which could see thousands of community members undergo intensive training in the fundamentals of family planning, family responsibility, their role as individuals and/or parents in society. The campaign was launched in an effort to create more loving, supportive and above all responsible families in our communities - something which is sorely lacking in our country.
The Foundation is reaching out to businesses, religious groups, media, municipalities, government, individuals and fellow non-profit organisations and the general public to boost its efforts by either donating funds and/or volunteering as community educators. To date, the campaign has received numerous support via the Internet and other sectors, but requires ongoing donations and resources to reach more communities and create a greater and long-lasting sustainable impact.
Adéle Grosse, founder and director of the Foundation says that the funds received will be used to roll out evidence based Skills Education Training Authorities (SETA) registered programmes. "The initial seven months of the five year project kicks off with an educational road show to create awareness of the programmes and will start from Cape Town to Musina, then to St. Lucia and back to Cape Town again.
"The five full-day training will coach and guide trainers to sustainably develop and preserve effective, balanced and responsible individuals in families, which will ultimately benefit communities. The training workbooks are available in English, Afrikaans, Xhosa as well as Swahili, Shona and Arabic. We will be having translations for other South African languages once further funding is secured," says Grosse.
The campaign objectives are optimistic. By 2018 it will have:
Grosse's views echo those of government's national aims for community development, social cohesion, citizenship pride, uniting as a nation, taking responsibility and embracing diversity to ensure a more peaceful and responsible nation. "In order to fully realise a legacy of a peaceful and responsible nation, change is vital. We are appealing to everyone to take part in this life enriching initiative so that together we can unite in making a difference in creating a loving, supportive, caring and committed family which in turn will change the destiny of our children, tomorrow's leaders and parents.
"South Africans know the power of unity, looking back to some of the memorable events in our past such as Former President Nelson Mandela's walk to Freedom in 1991, the Rugby World Cup of 1995, the Fifa Soccer World Cup of 2010 and our recent Olympiads, however, we need to make a turnaround in how we think and acknowledge that if we truly stand together in the belief that we can contribute to change for the better with and without our homes, communities, workplace, municipality, government departments, then we are on the pathway to a better future for ourselves and our children," Grosse concludes.
