Mutsindo Bakery and Confectionary Cooperative members display some of the machines that they received thanks to funding by the Nelson Mandela children's Fund.
WHAT started out as a small project funded by the women of Khalavha village near Thohoyandou, turned into a successful bakery thanks to the help of several benefactors.
The women who were part of this project, used to donate R2 each every week to fund their small bakery. They were able to carve out a meagre living through this bakery, but the project could never quite get off the ground due to financial constraints.
On Saturday the women celebrated the possibilities of their future after the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund came on board and helped the women launch the Mutsindo Bakery and Confectionary Cooperative.
Mampe Ntsedi, Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund programme specialist said they worked in conjunction with Far North Community Care and Development (FNCCD) to fund women’s self-help groups and to turn it into successful businesses.
Ntsedi said with the right training, funding and encouragement, they empowered the women to become completely self-reliant and their businesses sustainable.
“Bread from this bakery will feed the local and neighbouring villages at an affordable price. Residents won’t have to wait for expensive bread to be delivered from Thohoyandou anymore,” Ntsedi said.
Women from Khalavha village perform a Tshigombela traditional dance during the opening of the Mutsindo Bakery and Confectionary Cooperative on Saturday.Rogers Tshivhase (Khalavha, acting chief), Alunamutwe Rannditsheni, Mampe Ntsedi (Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund, programme specialist), Richael Tshivhase and Nthambeleni Ramanyimi (Far North Community Care and Development, director) officially open the Mutsindo Bakery and Confectionary Cooperative at Khalavha Village on Saturday.
She said the Khalavha Traditional Council paid for the water connection to the bakery and promised to continue to provide support to the women.
FNCCD director, Nthambeleni Ramanyimi, also spoke at the launch on Saturday and said they worked in 10 villages in Limpopo to help residents achieve better lives.
“This cooperative will improve the lives of the women and their families, because it will provide valuable income. It will also alleviate poverty and hunger in the area. We will continue to help the women in order to ensure their success,” he said.
Acting chief of Khalavha, Rogers Tshivhase, advised the women to bake products of high quality. He said if they baked bread, scones and cakes that were good enough to attract the attention of businesses, it would give the project a much needed boost.
“The Tshivhase royal family will support you as long as you continue to work together in harmony. We have witnessed the demise of promising projects due to infighting and gossip and we don’t want to see it here.
“Manage your finances in an open and transparent way. If you don’t it could lead to the end of your dream,” he said.
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