Khula Sizwe is a relevant Christian development organization committed to sustainable holistic rural enrichment in Southern Africa.

The Khula Sizwe project partners with mentors, who provide training and tutorship for small-scale rural entrepreneurs in their location. 

Khula Sizwe is a unique project that has proved highly successful. It does away with the dependency syndrome and is not paternalistic. It encourages ownership and responsibility and, therefore, the growth of entrepreneurs – both in their business and in their personal capacity.

Our ministry is Biblical; the principles which under-gird our work promote development of all aspects - economic, social and spiritual - of the person, the family and the community. 

The Trust is involved in facilitating the participation of rural farmers in the market economy through a business model which integrates them into an existing commercial production chain of established private businesses. This strengthens the private business production chain, while providing rural farmers access to inputs, training, supervision, monitoring and guaranteed markets.

The Khula Sizwe concept was motivated by the realisation that private businesses can benefit from the available potential for development in rural areas, at the same time enabling rural farmers to participate in main stream market economy.

To date, Khula Sizwe has facilitated out-grower partnerships between private businesses and rural farmers in broiler chicken [Umguza District (2001-2010)], layer chicken [Matobo District (2007-2008)], ostriches [Tsholotsho, Umguza, Insiza, Matobo, Umzingwane Districts (2001-2009)] and pigs [Chegutu District (2007-2010)].

 

Provision of Business Opportunities for Rural Farmers

Khula Sizwe Trust was established to address problems faced by rural farmers in entering main stream business through activities that include:

Facilitating linkages between rural farmers, financial institutions, input suppliers, markets and commercial enterprises.
Identifying areas of opportunity. These are geographical areas, business opportunities, groups of farmers and strategic business partners.
Provision of training in technical areas as well as business and organisational skills and backup for farmers.
Facilitating a monthly review forum of monthly financial statements, physical performance indicators and position reports for commercial businesses and rural farmers to enable all parties to achieve stated outputs.
Offering life skills and social development training to complement the technical and economic development of the rural community in a wholistic approach.

Khula Sizwe Trust can thus be seen as a mediator / facilitator between the rural farmers and the larger scale commercial business partners.