The Community Participation and Action Support Unit’s Grant-In-Aid Office empowered non-profit organisations through a series of capacity building workshops.

THE CITY’S Community Participation and Action Support Unit’s (CPASU) Grant-In-Aid Office embarked on a series of workshops to capacitate non-profit organisations (NPOs). Chairperson of the Governance and Human Resources Committee Councillor Nkosenhle Madlala said these workshops targeted community-based organisations and were conducted in six regions in the City. “We had six workshops in total, holding one workshop per region. The purpose of the workshops was to impart knowledge to organisations to access Grant-In-Aid and other sources of funding to continue with the good work they are doing in communities,” he said.

Councillor Madlala said they have seen the impact these workshops have by empowering NPOs to apply for funding. “We received applications from hundreds of organisations that applied for assistance in the past financial year after being empowered at similar workshops.” He said the workshops covered several topics such as steps taken to register a NPO, compliance, how to develop a good business plan, budgeting, and preparing financial statements.

Andiswa Mkhungo, from the Amakhosikazi Women’s Network based in KwaMashu, said the workshop was an eye opener. “We learned so much which will definitely be helpful when we complete our application for funding this year.” She said the feedback they received from the Grant-In-Aid Office regarding their last application was also helpful. “We understand what we didn’t do correctly in our previous application. We are hopeful we will receive funding to continue with our work,” she said. For more information contact the Grant-In-Aid Office on 031 311 6171 or 031 311 6195 or email: zami.nene@durban.gov.za