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When Kwandwe Private Game Reserve opened in 2002, the owners made philanthropy and giving back to the local communities a priority. With more than seventy percent of the population living in poverty, the Eastern Cape, where the reserve is based, is considered the poorest province in South Africa. The Angus Gillis Foundation (www.theangusgillisfoundation.co.za), founded by the Kwandwe owners but now independently run, is focused on assisting communities in breaking the cycle of poverty. Its energetic director, Diana Hornby, who has run programs for social development at South Africa’s Rhodes University and who is fluent in Xhosa, spoke to Indagare about the foundation’s work, including the new community center that Kwandwe guests can visit.

What is the philosophy behind the Angus Gillis Foundation?

We believe that people are the masters of their own destiny, so instead of simply giving handouts, we work closely with communities to empower individuals. We encourage self reliance. It’s often thought that all poor people need are resources, which is not true. Our aim is to mobilize a whole village and shift its inhabitant from poor health and hopelessness to increased power, well-being and self reliance. With this holistic and integrated approach, we aim to bring about empowerment which is life-changing and sustainable.

Can you give some examples how AGF is assisting in achieving this goal?

We have established a number of early childhood development sites, where there were none previously. We have built a Primary School and established a transport system to help children access High School. A number of health initiatives have been set up, including food security, a health bus to transport people to the clinic in town twice weekly and the training of a health worker in each village to address basic ailments and educate the community about HIV/Aids, TB and other health matters.

The main focus, however, has been establishing self help groups of women in the communities. These groups consist of between 12-20 individuals and they meet on a weekly basis and save funds with the purpose of starting a small business. They’re trained to do research and to identify the community’s assets and needs. They then prioritize the needs and, with our help, establish projects to overcome challenges. The groups have launched a number of small businesses, including bakeries, fresh vegetable markets and a doll-making co-operative amongst others.

The most important part is to identify, train and mentor leadership in each village, so that the people are empowered and able to challenge local government on poor service delivery and negotiate contracts with the municipality.

What do you think brings lasting change to these communities?

Many development agencies focus on supplying resources to poor communities. This quick-fix approach has had limited success. Building good relationships is the foundation of community building. Genuine change comes with careful planning, time and total commitment to the process. History has taught us that the most sustainable community development happens when communities have been allowed to make their own investment e.g. land, time, human resources, skills or strengths they may have. Recognizing their assets starts the project on a positive note and brings a higher level of ownership and care for their initiatives.

What is your feeling on hand-outs?

Hand-outs don’t help. We have found they make the person feel weaker and helpless, and if poor people get accustomed to them, they sit back and wait, rather than try to do something for themselves. It should be based on needs and only after the potential of people has been unlocked.

What are some other misconceptions people have about African aid work?

People often decide not to give, because they don’t know how much to give or they don’t have a large amount of money to give. You have no idea how many times an opportunity presents itself in the community where a small amount of money can make all the difference. Can you imagine if everyone with a job contributed just $10 per month what could be done—wow! If we don’t all do what we can to uplift poor people so that they can contribute to society, the future of our children will not be an attractive one.

Do you think celebrities taking up causes in Africa, whether it’s Mia Farrow in Darfur or Bono for One.org can make a difference in raising awareness?

Poor people are easily forgotten or ignored, because they don’t have a platform and their voice is never heard. It would be great to create a space where the poor can speak for themselves, but since its not going to happen, let’s thank the famous people who speak on their behalf.

How important is the collaboration between Angus Gillis and Kwandwe?

The links between poverty reduction and tourism are obvious. Tourism is a growing sector and there are many poor people in South Africa, so the one can be harnessed to offset the other. Kwandwe has made community development central to their core business. Some eighty percent of their employees are previously disadvantaged people. Kwandwe therefore believe that for their employees to reach full potential they need to invest in their families, because dysfunctional families generally produce dysfunctional individuals.

How can visitors to Kwandwe make an impact?

We have built a Community Centre, which is owned and run by the community. Guests can visit the Centre to engage with the community and learn some African crafts. We hope this will add value to the guest experience and at the same time generate the income needed to sustain the activities in the Centre, including education, skills development and health initiatives.

What were some of your proudest moments working at AGF?

Each day has its own story, so there are many to choose from. I get great delight from seeing rural women standing up in meetings to make a point, where previously they wouldn’t have dared speak. I’ve had some exciting moments this year where communities have set up their own projects, using only the resources they have, and then proudly invited me to come and see what they have achieved.

Learn more about the Angus Gillis Foundation and how you can get involved at www.theangusgillisfoundation.co.za.

A review of Kwandwe Private Game Reserve will post shortly.

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