IMBADU HOUSING ENABLEMENT (IMBADU GROUP)

A detailed discussion of iMBADU GROUP, its mission, and key services. 

Imbadu Housing Enablement Cooperative (IHECO) now referred to as Imbadu Group was founded on August 4th, 2013, under the Board of IMBADU MA-AFRIKA DEVELOPMENTCONSORTIUM which was established in 2011 to promote African cultural heritages and economic development to enable self-reliant and empowerment of black people. Imbadu Group was officially registered by the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) on September 25th, 2014 which registers companies, cooperatives, and trademarks. The dawn of freedom and democracy presented South Africa with great possibilities and the Constitution Act 108 of 1996 to unlock the full potential of its citizens and also to formulate sustainable solutions to redress the legacies of colonial and apartheid regimes premised on racial discrimination to exclude the black people from land ownership, land rights, good housing, good education, equality, good skills, equitable economic opportunities and jobs. It now works with the National Development Agency (NDA) on priority cooperatives, the National Department of Human Settlements (NDHS), the Department of Small Business Development (DSBD), and the Small Enterprise Development Agency, as well as business and academic institutions. Imbadu grew to include other cooperatives, such as Imbadu Bakery Cooperative, Imbadu Cooperative Financial Institution, and Imbadu Clothing and Textile.

 Mission and vision.

 The Cooperative's mission involves building strategic partnerships, mobilizing human capital and resources, providing capacity building and mentorship, and investing in research and development.

Actually, truth be told, Imbadu Group's vision is much bigger than its own members. Imbadu Group vision entails striving to enable full emancipation of the potential, capacity, and capabilities of the African people to define and determine their own future taking full advantage of the Bill of Rights enshrined in the Constitution Act 108 of 1996 from Sections 7 to 36 in Chapter 2 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. To access good land for mixed development purposes to plan and build sustainable communities to restore full realization of human dignity for marginalized communities and build a self-reliant society with agricultural opportunities for food security, green innovations, business, and good jobs.

Key services.

 Imbadu Group initially focused on housing-related interests, but this vision has taken longer to achieve. In October 2023, during its 10th anniversary celebration, Imbadu expanded its mandate to include the development of income-generating projects. These initiatives are intended to achieve the broader vision of creating integrated and true inclusivity in the Stellenbosch Valley. It identified these business ideas and organized people into preferred cooperatives: 1) Cooperative Financial Institution (CFI), 2) Imbadu Bakery Cooperative, 3) Clothing and Textile Cooperative.

1. Imbadu Bakery Cooperative: The primary target market for the sale of products is the membership of Imbadu who will be encouraged to purchase bread from Imbadu Bakery daily. Imbadu Group will also mobilize spaza shops to purchase bread from Imbadu Bakery Enterprise and will operate 365 days since bread forms part of everyday family meals.

2. Imbadu Cooperative Financial Institution (ICFI): To establish the CFI requires the recruitment of 200 people committing to contribute R500.00 for its registration. The CFI members contribute an agreed monthly savings, and have options for other helpful financial products for members. The products and services of Imbadu Cooperative Bank will be promoted within Khayamnandi and the Greater Stellenbosch Municipal area to build an inclusive economy and secure future for all.

3. Imbadu Clothing, Textile, and Craft Cooperatives aims to train about 25 members in a variety of machines and assemble the factory with a new generation of machinery to meet the demand in the clothing industry. Focusing on a market that comprises a diverse array of businesses and individuals, making essential outfits for laboratory and religious sectors.

How these services align with the key Community Development Approaches.

 The initiatives by Imbadu Group align well with key Community Development Approaches, promoting inclusivity, economic empowerment, and sustainability. 

The initiatives by Imbadu Group align well with key Community Development Approaches, promoting inclusivity, economic empowerment, and sustainability. For instance, the Imbadu Bakery Cooperative addresses economic empowerment by providing affordable bread and creating local jobs, which enhances income stability for its members (Kearney, 2016). It fosters social inclusion by encouraging community ownership and participation, allowing members to share in profits (Putnam, 2000). Furthermore, operating year-round contributes to food security, supporting the local economy through spaza shops (FAO, 2019).

 The Imbadu Cooperative Financial Institution (ICFI) focuses on increasing access to financial services, addressing the banking access gap in the community (Rural Finance Learning Lab, 2018). By pooling resources, the CFI promotes collective empowerment, enabling members to benefit from shared financial services, which fosters entrepreneurship (Morduch, 1999). The emphasis on promoting financial literacy within the community encourages local economic growth (Bene, 2009).

The Imbadu Clothing, Textile, and Craft Cooperatives emphasize skills development by training members in garment production, leading to increased economic independence (ILO, 2016). This initiative supports local production, reducing reliance on external suppliers and contributing to a sustainable local economy (UNDP, 2015). By catering to diverse market needs, the cooperative ensures inclusivity and representation in local industry (Harris, 2020).

Overall, these initiatives embody participatory development by emphasizing member involvement, which ensures projects meet community needs (Chambers, 1997). The integrated approach combines food security, financial stability, and job creation, addressing multiple socio-economic challenges (Patterson, 2019). Moreover, focusing on self-sustaining cooperatives promotes long-term resilience, enabling the community to adapt effectively to economic changes (Agarwal, 2019).

References.

Agarwal, B. (2019). Sustainable Development and Resilience: Community-Based Approaches. Oxford University Press.

Bene, C. (2009). "Making the Most of the Money: Financial Inclusion and Development." Journal of Development Studies, 45(5), 741-757.

Chambers, R. (1997). Whose Reality Counts? Putting the First Last. ITDG Publishing.

FAO. (2019). "The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World." Food and Agriculture Organization.

Harris, J. (2020). "Community Inclusion and Economic Empowerment." Journal of Community Development, 55(4), 301-318.

ILO. (2016). Skills for Trade and Economic Diversification. International Labour Organization.

Kearney, A. T. (2016). "The Economic Impact of Local Cooperatives." Economic Development Journal, 15(3), 23-31.

Morduch, J. (1999). "The Role of Subsidies in Microfinance." Journal of Development Economics, 60(1), 33-56.

Patterson, J. (2019). "Integrated Community Development: Strategies for Sustainable Growth." Community Development Review, 17(2), 112-130.

Putnam, R. D. (2000). Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community. Simon & Schuster.

Rural Finance Learning Lab. (2018). "Access to Finance: Best Practices and Case Studies." Learning Lab Publications.

UNDP. (2015). Local Development and Inclusive Growth. United Nations Development Programme.

student placement agreement and log sheets.