The Valleys and Mountains Development Foundation Annual Report 2015 - | Page 13

 Due to the profile of the community (low literacy, high unemployment rate, poverty,

dysfunctional families, single-mother households, high alcohol and drug abuse), the
most important area to empower young people is self-esteem and self-confidence.

 For this reason the utmost focus was around creative activities. Apart from being the

most powerful tool to empower people with low educational skills and abilities, it is
also an area where alternative income generation options in the field of tourism can
be explored. The entire region’s economy is directly linked to agriculture. However,
tourism to this region is developing very fast and is a major priority for the Langeberg
Municipality.
The Foundation partnered with the Local Economic Development department of the
Municipality to develop eighteen young men and women through craft art, street art
and journalism. These candidates were paid a monthly stipend by the EPWP initiative
for eight months and some have continued on to permanent employment