We have added Internal Learning and Growth as a separate project as we strongly believe in developing and improving our own service capacity in order to most effectively support our local communities.
We are constantly working to increase Calabash Trust’s own growth towards a well established organisation, continuously reflecting and learning from our practice, and contributing to the schools and the community as a role model of the message we bring.
This we have done by creating a framework for reflection and learning, building evaluation and impact assessment within Calabash Trust and in the programmes.
We are known to work in a very transparent manner and always promote open communication.
Undoubtedly we have to improve our own capacity in order to most effectively assist our local communities from within, and to network and mediate outside the communities. The following training equipped some staff members from the communities, who had no other formal education, to do just that:
o Volunteerism Training by Imbewu Community Volunteers in Port Elizabeth.
o Sustainable Tourism by Fair Trade in Port Elizabeth
o Asset Based Community Development by Ikhala Trust in Port Elizabeth.
o Ready for Success by the GM Foundation in Port Elizabeth.
o Developmental Approaches and Skills for Group Facilitation by Community Development Resource Association (CDRA) in Cape Town
o Effective Capacity Building for NGO’s by Services SETA in Port Elizabeth
o Proposal and Report Writing by Masimanyane in Port Elizabeth.
o Fundraising by Services SETA in Port Elizabeth
o Basic Finances by Services SETA in Port Elizabeth
o Sales and Marketing by Award Training Skills Development in Port Elizabeth.
o Strengthening our Response on HIV/AIDS by Community Development Unity (CDU) in Port Elizabeth.
o MS PowerPoint by Eagle Computer Training in Port Elizabeth.
o Pastel Accounting by Better Computer Accounting in Port Elizabeth.
o Pastel Payroll and Human Resources by HH Accounting Services in Port Elizabeth.
o Women in Leadership by Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) in Port Elizabeth.
o Ongoing internal training by in-house trainer.
All staff members were not able to receive the above training, and those who did passed their newly found skills onto the others, however additional skills are necessary to enhance the positive impact on communities who turn to us for guidance.
Additional training necessary for staff include:
o Writing and research skills
o Fundraising and proposal writing
o Advanced facilitation
o Advanced Monitoring and Evaluation
