04415nam 22004212 4500 7659d2fe-0e39-4bcf-bc1f-50199dbf6e59 m o d cr n 260403t20252025 ob 000 0 eng d 9781990982293 (Paperback) 9781990982309 (Hardback) 9781990982323 (PDF) 9781990982316 (Epub) 10.4102/aosis.2025.BK565 doi UkCbTOM eng local JHB thema JBF thema JKSN thema Ukonga among women in rural spaces : A Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund-inspired community project / edited by Joyce Mnesi Mdiniso, Allucia Shokane, Mapule Cheela. AOSIS, Durbanville, Cape Town : AOSIS, 2025. ©2025 1 online resource (108 pages): 24 illustrations. text txt rdacontent computer c rdamedia online resource cr rdacarrier Available through AOSIS. Open Access Unrestricted online access star Empowering women is at the heart of sustainable development. Ukonga among women in rural spaces: A Nelson Mandela Children's Fund‑inspired community project showcases how women’s self‑help groups in Eshowe within the uMlalazi Local Municipality in KwaZulu‑Natal, South Africa, have risen as driving forces of change, transforming lives, strengthening families, fostering financial independence and building resilience in rural South African communities.When the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund was founded in 1995, Nelson Mandela contributed from his own pocket towards establishing an organisation that continues to exist in his honour for nearly 30 years. In the same spirit of self‑reliance and discipline, the Fund introduced the Sustainable Livelihoods Project, implemented in partnership with the KwaZulu‑Natal Christian Council and their community facilitators, supporting these women’s self‑help groups that encourage saving, collective action and sustainable livelihoods. These initiatives enable women to overcome poverty, access education and health care and develop entrepreneurship skills. The project has directly contributed to strengthening families through community‑based initiatives that improve the care and support of infants, children, youth, expectant mothers and caregivers. Despite limited resources, training and logistical challenges, communities have built homes using locally‑produced cement blocks and initiated income‑generating projects, such as poultry farming and vegetable cultivation and trading to sustain their livelihoods.This book combines rigorous qualitative and quantitative research from scholars at the University of Zululand, telling the stories of the lived experiences of these women in rural KwaZulu‑Natal, offering real-world evidence of the positive socioeconomic impact. It is a vital resource for policymakers, practitioners, researchers and all who are committed to supporting women’s empowerment, sustainable community development and reducing dependency on state grants. Above all, the book tells a story of the power of collaboration between communities, civil society and academia, creating lasting change for women, children and families living in rural South African communities. Mode of access: World Wide Web. The text of this book is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International license (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0). For more detailed information consult the publisher's website. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ Metadata licensed under CC0 Public Domain Dedication. Mdiniso, Joyce Mnesi, editor. University of Zululand. (orcid)0000000196184956 https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9618-4956 Shokane, Allucia, editor. University of Zululand. (orcid)0000000229281526 https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2928-1526 Cheela, Mapule, editor. AOSIS, publisher. https://doi.org/10.4102/aosis.2025.bk565 Connect to e-book https://books.aosis.co.za/index.php/ob/$$$call$$$/submission/cover/thumbnail?submissionId=565&random=5656983319888d34 Connect to cover image https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ CC0 Metadata License