In India’s poorest communities, the absence of proper sanitation facilities meant many girls stopped attending school once they reached adolescence. The lack of dignity, privacy and basic hygiene created an insurmountable barrier to education and opportunity.
Through partnership with local Rotary clubs and community leaders, we helped construct toilet facilities at schools serving the most disadvantaged children. These were not just buildings. They were gateways to continued education, safety and self-respect.
One school stood out among all others. Located beside a canal, it served children who were among the poorest of the poor. Many lacked the comfort of stable homes or traditional family structures. Yet they arrived each day in neat, clean school uniforms, welcomed us with genuine warmth despite our late arrival, and sat patiently through official proceedings.
The contrast was profound and humbling. The opportunities available to us as Rotarians set against the daily trials these children faced. Behind the project was a dedicated individual whose commitment to these children went far beyond duty. His work with Rotary made dignity and education possible for students who deserved every chance to succeed.
Project Impact
Schools Supported: Multiple facilities across India’s poorest regions
Girls Benefiting: Hundreds of students who can now complete their education
Focus: Dignity, safety, and removing barriers to education
Partnership: Local Rotary clubs and dedicated community leaders
In the East Rand area of Gauteng Province, South Africa, poverty creates a vicious cycle. Without skills, there is no employment. Without employment, families cannot meet basic needs. Without hope, communities cannot grow.
In partnership with Siyabonga Africa, a registered non-profit organisation, and the Rotary Club of Benoni van Ryn (District 9400), we are breaking this cycle by building skills and economic independence.
How the Project Works
Through comprehensive training and skills development programs, disadvantaged individuals learn trades that lead to sustainable employment or self-employment:
- Fashion design and clothing manufacture using industrial sewing machines
- Steel welding and fabrication for construction and manufacturing
- Commercial baking of confectionery and bread products
- Agricultural skills including greenhouse farming and food production
The outcome is transformational. These individuals gain skills that enable them to earn a living sufficient to support themselves and their families. They move from dependence to independence, from poverty to possibility.
Your Support Makes It Possible
We collaborate with RAWCS (Rotary Australia World Community Service) to convert tax-deductible donations into tangible support. Your contribution purchases sewing machines, welding equipment, computers, pays for expert tuition, and provides the resources that make success possible.
Clayton’s Story: A Hand-Up, Not a Handout
It’s amazing how some people can grab the smallest opportunity with both hands, and use it to turn their lives around. Clayton is one of these people.
An impoverished young man who grew up in KwaThema, about 60 kilometres east of Johannesburg, Clayton completed Siyabonga’s baking course in June 2021. Afterwards, he volunteered at a local pizza place, working for nothing, in order to extend his knowledge and gain experience.
In return, the owner of the pizza shop allowed him to use the kitchen to bake vetkoek (fat cake), biscuits and cakes early in the morning from 4.45 am, before the shop opened. These he sold to earn a small income for himself.
Clayton wakes up very early in the morning, eager to start baking. His mantra is: “I can, I will, and I must”. So impressed was Siyabonga by his attitude and hard work, that they gave Clayton a brand-new electric fryer, and additional business training to help him set up his own small bakery.
In his home town, you can look out for the Handyman Bakery, where you can buy Clayton’s high-quality, freshly-baked items. “The best thing about my little business,” he says, “is that it has made me believe in myself.”
Siyabonga believes in people like Clayton. Those who are motivated, committed, and eager to learn. People who WANT to work and are desperate for a way to earn their own living. Siyabonga operates at grassroots level to identify individuals within disadvantaged communities with the qualities to become skilled workers, employed or self-employed.
More Success Stories
Clarence Mathebula is a talented fashion graduate with a passion for innovation and style. Clarence has designed a groundbreaking accessory that’s both functional and fashionable: a bag that transforms into a bucket hat! This incredible creation is testament to Clarence’s creativity and his commitment to sustainability and versatility in fashion.
Zingiswa completed her baking training overflowing with gratitude for the business starter pack she received from Siyabonga. Her dedication and passion propelled her to take a leap into entrepreneurship. She opened her own small baking business, turning her dreams into reality. From learning the ropes to stepping into her own venture, her journey is truly inspiring.
These stories represent the transformational power of skills training combined with opportunity, support and determination.
Project Details
Location: East Rand, Gauteng Province, South Africa
Partner: Siyabonga Africa (registered NPO)
Rotary Partners: E-Club D9650 (now D9660 Online) and Rotary Club of Benoni van Ryn (D9400)
Tax Status: Tax-deductible donations through RAWCS
Contact:
By Building Skills
We strengthen and grow individuals and communities. Economic independence creates dignity, opportunity and lasting change.
International service is about partnership, not charity. We work alongside local organisations who understand their communities’ needs. We listen more than we speak. We invest in sustainable solutions that continue long after our involvement ends.
Our role is to amplify the work of dedicated individuals who have committed their lives to serving others. We provide resources, connections and support. They provide local knowledge, cultural understanding and sustained commitment.
Most importantly, we focus on the people being helped, not ourselves. The measure of our success is not how many plaques we unveil or photos we take, but how many lives are genuinely transformed by access to dignity, education, skills and opportunity.
- Regular member contributions
- Tax-deductible donations through RAWCS
- Rotary Foundation grants
- District grant applications
- Fundraising initiatives
- Transparent financial reporting
- Vetted, trusted local partners
- Sustainable, long-term solutions
- Regular project updates
- Measurable impact assessment