Caledon (Overberg Development & Empowerment Centre)

Set against the backdrop of the Swartberg mountain range in the Western Cape, surrounded by fields of barley and wheat, is the little town of Caledon, which is famous for its hot springs.

The Overberg Development and Empowerment Centre (ODEC) is run by the energetic Dawid Kroukamp. It is a registered non-profit-organisation and serves the Caledon community, which has a workforce that faces 50 percent unemployment between August and January due to seasonal nature of their work. The office is in a neat unassuming house in the Theewaterskloof Municipality on the outskirts of Caledon, some 150km from Cape Town. 

ODEC has 7 main sectors of activity:

1. Income Generation
2. Human Rights
3. HIV and AIDS & Home Based Care
4. Youth Development
5. Women Empowerment
6. Arts, Culture and Sport

During 2010, ODEC’s Human Rights Desk assisted 1960 people with consumer, labour related and evictions issues, of which 90% were successfully handled. More than 1040 people were trained on labour rights issues. In addition to providing advice and comprehensive practical support, the Human Rights Desk conducted ongoing awareness and educational campaigns and workshops. The intention is to inform people of their rights, how to claim these rights and how to effectively address any violations of rights, whether their own or those of other people in the community. The 'Know Your Rights' training programme conducts three workshops per month on issues such as the Sectoral Determination for farm workers, UIF (Unemployment Insurance) Act and the Occupational Health and Safety Act, COIDA, the New Credit Act and the extension of Security and Tenure Act. The office operates five days a week while the Human Rights Awareness Programme, which is geared towards raising mass awareness within communities, serves as an important vehicle through which the initiatives are undertaken.

HIV and AIDS Programme

Through ODEC’s HIV and AIDS Programme we also conduct ongoing awareness and educational campaigns and workshops to inform the community about related health issues, as well as specific rights involving dignity, support and treatment. Through three workshops per month, the training programme successfully reached and educated 1270 community members around HIV and AIDS issues, distributed relevant information to more than 3740 people and distributed more than 14 500 male condoms amongst the youth. The home-based care programme ensures daily visits in town and on the surrounding farms and work is closely linked to the HIV and AIDS Information Dissemination project.

Youth Development Sector

The Youth Programme conducts ongoing awareness and educational campaigns on a variety of topics, including how to learn more effectively. It also encourages youth to take part in home and community life as responsible citizens and stimulates ethical sensitivity. The young people are motivated to explore career opportunities and to develop entrepreneurial intelligence, so as to claim their rightful place in their respective communities. Some specific achievements for the year are listed below:

• information on youth development was distributed and reached more than 2300 young people;

• more than 570 young people were trained in computer and life skills;

• career guidance was offered to 357 young people;

• more than 1130 young people participated in the Arts and Culture project;

• 174 young people, after receiving career guidance, joined the Chrystalis Academy for a three month in–service training programme.

ODEC in the media:

In July 2011, Ann Crotty, a Business Report journalist for the Cape Times wrote an article about the Overberg Development and Empowerment Centre.    The article was published in the Business Report – the link to which can be followed here:

http://www.iol.co.za/business/business-news/non-profits-threatened-by-loss-of-tax-advantage-1.1102173

Scat visited the office along with our partners, the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation in late 2011.   Photographs documenting our visit can be viewed on our Facebook page following this link:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.236408376412457.71316.113578382028791&type=3

Caledon Advice Office
Overberg Development and Empowerment Centre (ODEC)
20 Chater Street
P.O. Box 151 CALEDON, 7230
Tel/Fax: 028 212 2327
Contact: Dawid Kroukamp

Email:  dawidkroukamp@telkomsa.net