Written by: Thula Zondi
Across Inanda, Khula Village, Keiskammahoek, Middelburg and Addo, a quiet but powerful shift is taking place. Communities that were once focused on what they lacked are beginning to recognise something far more valuable; the resources, skills and networks that already exist within them.
Lucky Nkosi
For participants like Lucky Nkosi, this change has been both practical and personal. He reflects on how the training reshaped his thinking: “I used to think we needed funding first. Now I see we can start with what we already have. This training opened my eyes, I didn’t realise how much we already have in our community. We are no longer waiting for help, we are starting to help ourselves.”
This transformation is being driven through the Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) Training, where participants are learning to see their communities through a different lens. Instead of waiting for external solutions, they are identifying local strengths and turning them into practical opportunities for growth.
In these sessions, everyday skills are gaining new meaning. Home gardens are evolving into pathways. Local talents are being shaped into services. Neighbours are connecting more intentionally to build ideas that respond directly to their own realities. The shift is simple but powerful: from “we don’t have” to “we can use what we have.”
He also describes the learning experience as accessible and empowering: “The facilitator made the training easy to understand and very engaging, this was the best training I have attended, and I now feel confident to apply what I’ve learned.”
Beyond individual growth, the impact is starting to show at community level. New ideas are emerging, small income-generating activities are being explored, and there is a growing sense of agency among participants. What began as training is steadily becoming a foundation for self-employment pathways, more resilient livelihoods, and stronger local economies built from within.
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Edited by: Antoinette van Niekerk