Capespan affiliate empowers women

Ray Smuts THE CAPE Women's Forum - a Capespan Foundation affiliate - has joined forces with the Nozala Trust, an equally respected women's movement, to launch an entrepreneurship and job creation programme for the rural regions of South Africa. Known as Izandla, freely translated as "the hands that work", it will combine the considerable experience of the two organisations in achieving the determined goals. The Cape Women's Forum was established in 1990 as a partnership between Unifruco and women in the fruit industry and now operates extremely successful training courses in skills, empowerment, primary health care and development of women in rural South Africa. Likewise, the Nozala Trust, established five years ago, works for the economic advancement of women in rural and peri-urban areas and has enjoyed success in creating women entrepreneurs, particularly in Northern Province and Free State. Izandla will have the support of the Capespan Group - South Africa's major fruit marketer - which will contribute marketing skills to the venture.