MANZIMVULA’S ROLE & VALUE

Manzimvula’s ISA processes and techniques work to align the values and objectives of individuals, teams, organizations and even entire communities. By creating a culture that is second-nature, individuals and teams naturally act in alignment with their new, shared belief system. And, once focused on a common vision, implementing strategies to achieve long-term, sustainable growth becomes possible.

The Integrative Strategy Approach™ even works in environments where there has been a total breakdown of communication, synergy and growth at all levels. The proof? Our success in using ISA to empower rural South African communities through our work with the My Arms Wide Open Foundation. The situation in many rural South African communities is extreme; communications between community members is fractured and productivity is at an all-time low. Although the skills to generate revenue exist, the lack of shared values and the inability to work as a team (either as a family unit or as a community) have created a downward spiral. These communities are, for all intents and purposes, stuck in their past – like many low-productivity organizations.

Manzimvula’s model of engaging entire companies in discussions about vision and principles, shifting mindsets and focusing on results has been adapted into the MAWO program, Iziko Labahlali. Iziko Labahlali means “hearth of the community” in Xhosa. The program strengthens South African communities at their core, delivering enduring improvements to people, townships and societies. Training sessions involve youth and adults who have a desire to take control of their life and make changes—for themselves and for their community. MAWO provides learning and skills transfer, enabling participants to ignite their passion, define their purpose, and build their community. The outcome MAWO works to achieve is to educate participants so that they remain in their community, contributing and providing value. (We don’t work to give them qualifications so they can leave their community!) Participants learn to identify needs within the community and then to build a sustainable enterprise around those ideas. This leads to job opportunities, and helps them understand and embrace the benefits of a collaborative mindset.

By identifying common values and objectives—based on each individual participant’s mindset, life path and skills— implementing services and creating products that have been identified as community needs becomes possible. The result is generating growth and employment. And, as the original group of individuals share the ISA principles and techniques more broadly in their communities, more opportunities are being realized.

OUR RESULTS

The bottom line is that by tapping into individual’s skills and desires, and by creating alignment between personal
and group values and vision, Manzimvula’s programs have facilitated growth, skills transfer and sustainable operations in an extreme environment. We are now duplicating these results in other communities. The Integrative Strategy Approach™ applies equally well in both corporate and organizational environments: we identify current perceptions and reality at an individual, team and organizational level to develop and implement strategies that are aligned with corporate objectives.

Based on Manzimula’s proven business and training models, MAWO is successfully implementing the Iziko Labahlahli program in the Cradock community on the Eastern Cape: More than 200 people are now waiting to participate. Sixty-three people have completed the program to date and each one of them is now gainfully employed. Program ‘graduates’ recruit and select new program participants and, in this way, become the change agents in their communities as the program spreads into other communities throughout South Africa. The more people that go through the program, the more communities are empowered, and the more businesses that are created, the less dependent on aid they become.

KAROO FURNITURE MANUFACTURERS

Working with the members of the first group in Cradock, a furniture manufacturing business has been established in Cradock. The factory is the first new manufacturer in Cradock in over 40 years and employs nine of the initial Iziko Labahlali participants. The idea to start a furniture manufacturer came from a discussion during the program about making houses into homes and the components that constituted a home. Furniture was a big part of that. In order to expand the business and employ additional Iziko Labahlali graduates, the management team is looking at extending the current line of products from lounge suites to head boards for bedrooms. The business is also looking at spinning off another business to produce the fabric for the furniture, as well as throw rugs and cushions.

NOMZAMO DAY CARE CENTRE

MAWO is supporting the Nomzamo Day Care Centre by providing a vegetable garden that the students from Stellenbosch University helped to establish and cultivate. MAWO is also working on a special needs curriculum to support the school. The newest teacher at the centre attended the Iziko Labahlali program in March 2011.

MY WORLD IN A GARDEN VERTICAL FOOD WALLS

MAWO is working to establish a significant vertical food wall system that will be built at the site of the Masizame Community Centre in Cradock. This food wall system will provide a natural vegetable and fruit food source for the day care centres in the community.

BEYOND CRADOCK MALUNGENI, EASTERN CAPE

In Malungeni, Eastern Cape, MAWO is in discussions with the community to support the local school and crèche (Day Care Centre). The school is too small, classrooms are inadequate, and they need a curriculum suitable for the local population, teachers and suppliers. The state run school has failed, and lost its allocated budget for teachers. The crèche has no resources and requires programs, teachers and supplies. It is currently run out of a shipping container. As a member of the community stated, “We need a real school!”

MAWO plans to run an Iziko Labahlali program in Malungeni in October 2011, along with the local residents, to begin the process of redeveloping the vital education infrastructure and programming in Malungeni.

BERGNEK, LIMPOPO

When MAWO first visited the community, at the request of a local resident who had heard about My Arms Wide Open and the work it has been doing in Cradock, we found a community in dire need of a healthcare facility, housing and support for the schools and crèches. But the first challenge was a reliable supply of clean water.

In February 2011, MAWO reactivated a well and installed a pump in the community to provide water. The well is more than sufficient for the community and the now abundant water supply has given the community an opportunity to establish a new social enterprise. Our first step will be to run the Iziko Labahlali program in Bergnek. The program will allow us to identify real needs in the community and explore some of the ideas in he community that include brick making (see below), a low cost private school, home building and a healthcare centre.

In October of 2011, My Arms Wide Open ran the first Iziko Labahlali program in the Bergnek community. Through discussions with the community, its headman and council, we have learned that they have a significant clay resource on their property that is suitable for brick making. It is replenished each year through perennial rains flooding the river and bringing silt from the high country. The working plan is to create a brick making facility to support building homes in the Bergnek and surrounding communities. MAWO is developing a business plan in collaboration with the municipality of Polokwane.

GLOBAL PARTNERS & THE PACIFIC INSTITUTE CASE STUDY

Global Partners and The Pacific Institutes Investment in Excellence Curriculum is grounded in human development, applying and teaching cognitive psychology principles around efficacy. Grounded in clinically validated research, the curriculum is widely recognized in academia and corporations for its effective delivery of distinct tools and processes for people to realize their potential, and accelerate their effectiveness.

Summary

Manzimvula worked with Global Partners to enhance the process and protocols for the curriculum’s delivery and facilitation. The goal was to develop an approach that would allow more sessions to be facilitated, and to measure results more accurately.

Manzimvula’s Role & Value

We enhanced the teaching efficacy of the curriculum by increasing the number of exercises and attendees’ direct participation, both during the actual classes and subsequent daily, weekly and monthly group calls. To enhance the classroom portion, we established goals and objectives with each participant and then assembled mini teams within the group to collaborate on conference calls after the classroom sessions. These calls took place for six weeks between classroom sessions, and for three months following the final session.

Our Results

Manzimvula worked with Global Partners to enhance the process and protocols for the curriculum’s delivery and facilitation. The goal was to develop an approach that would allow more sessions to be facilitated, and to measure results more accurately.

The curriculum dovetails with Manzimvula’s Integrative Strategy approach, as it applies through the education process a common language within organizations and teams that enables them to communicate significantly more effectively. Leaders learn to expand their thinking and to create and accomplish their visions. They’re self-motivated, open minded and accountable.

By using these creative and innovative thinking processes, organizations and teams quickly develop strong relationships and wealth-producing visions. People experience the joy and excitement of making a difference and sustaining personal and business growth.