Umthombo will round off the React project during this period with five trainees successfully completing their year-long training course. At this stage three of them have found work, two locally and one of them is now coding for a European business having completed an internship in Johannesburg.

The GROW project, having secured some seed funding from local government will expand by a further two to three growers on its existing plot as well as investigating the possibility of opening up new land for the future. A new development is the holding of one-day workshops for both members and the local community on subjects ranging from organic growing methods to natural soil fertility management.

Growers who wish to do so will be linked to a local vegetable wholesale business to improve their marketing potential and the reliability of their income streams where appropriate.

During 2023 Umthombo will build a simple but substantial building that will act as a ‘Community Hub’. Here it is envisaged that a youth environmental club will have its base as will a young women’s fitness and self-defense group. Furthermore, it will act as a sheltered venue for further cultural trainings and exchanges.

It is hoped that by the end of 2023 research will commence surrounding work on developing a community resilience strategy as well as exploring how the trust can offer respite and care for the ‘caregivers’ of the local community.