CONNECTIONS

CONNECTIONS was initiated in response to growing poverty in South Africa and the isolation of community workers and CBOs. From the onset, the motivation was to strengthen the capacity of grassroots organisations to support the social and economic development of the country. Organisers believed that by using technology and training to support communities in their own organisational development, CONNECTIONS could contribute to strengthening civil society in a sustainable way.

CONNECTIONS' programmes are designed to build the capacity of grassroots community organisations in South Africa to initiate, manage, and sustain development processes in their communities. Organisers understand that "capacity" in this context consists of organic, evolving, and process-driven practices which are influenced by the motivation and aspirations of individuals. The organisation is committed to people-centred and participatory development, as reflected in its methods and materials. For example, the training curriculum includes role play, group discussion, and experiential learning, with a strong link to community development theory and practice. Activities, games, and participatory methodologies are used to demystify theoretical concepts and engage community workers in an experiential learning process.

Specifically, CONNECTIONS developed an integrated capacity-building programme which combines training, OD, technical assistance, and infrastructure support. The organisation links community organisations to technology through computer training and a Resource Centre. Located in a preschool (Nomzamo Educare Centre) in Guguletu (one of the poorer township communities of Cape Town), the Resource Centre was established in 2001 as a response to the lack of community access to technology, infrastructure, and information technology (IT) skills. Most community workers also lack office space; the Centre is thus seen as a way of bridging the digital divide and providing infrastructure to support local community development.

The Centre is currently equipped with 10 new computers, printer, fax, and a laminating and binding machine. It is used as a site for training, workshops, and meetings, while also providing an infrastructure for learners and other community workers/organisations who are linked to CONNECTIONS. Community workers can also access the Centre and book computers for free in order to do their own work and pay a nominal rate for printing and photocopying. In addition, the Centre will potentially host an alternative economic system/electronic community currency, which it will administer. The idea is that, through this system as well as an expansion of its administrative services, the Centre will become financially self-sufficient and sustainable over time.

CONNECTIONS cultivates a holistic approach to community development. Organisational and computer skills courses are integrated, for instance. The hope is that community leaders will thereby develop knowledge on how to conceptualise project plans, proposals, and budgets and have the opportunity to refine, type, and format documents with a technical skill. The computer programme is designed to enable community workers to apply their creativity and develop documentation, as well as to access a infrastructure for their work. CONNECTIONS also integrates life skills and consciousness-building elements in all programmes and encourages ongoing critical reflection at a personal and professional level.

Technology.

In 2000, a group of volunteer community workers conducted a comprehensive needs assessment and developed an integrated capacity-building programme which was piloted with 20 CBOs (Aug 2000 – Jan 2002). A report and ‘Organisational Development Toolkit for Community Workers’ (1st edition) was produced as a result; these materials became the basis for the organisation's future work. The success of the pilot motivated the continuation of the programme, and CONNECTIONS was constituted and launched in May 2001 with 20 founding member CBOs. The organisation established offices and its Computer Resource Centre, and was formally registered as a non-profit organisation in August 2002. Its motivating vision is a society in which CBOs would be recognised and resourced, and where technology would be accessible to community leaders in every neighbourhood, enabling them to proactively shape the national and global agenda.