In line with the social teaching of the Catholic Church, the response of the Diocese of Bethlehem, through CCS, has been to work with local communities and help them to help themselves.

Following the basic principles of the social teaching, the projects reach out to the poorest of the poor with the belief that they have the capacity to help themselves, although they may lack some of the resources to make their work easier.

In the light of the principle of subsidiarity and the belief that people should make as many decisions as possible at local level, the work of CCS is to challenge the community members at grass roots level and to assist them in moving out of the poverty trap.

CCS operates 3 programmes:

1. The Maluti Agricultural Resource Unit / M.A.R.U.:

The aim of the programme was to initiate 200 vegetable gardens in the Thabo Mofutsanyana District, by grouping people together, training them in food production and mentoring them to maintain the gardens. All this was done in a bid to fight poverty in Thabo Mofutsanyana District, which has been declared a presidential nodal point.

The programme entailed capacity building, supplying of vegetable seeds and the provision of the required equipment for the gardens. A target of 208 gardens has been achieved to date – notably with funds already received from NDA and the National Lottery Development Trust Fund (NLDTF) and many gardens are up and running in 23 towns in the Free State, covering three districts, namely Thabo Mofutsanyana, Motheo and Fezile Dabi. As a result, 200 families in 23 towns in the Free State have access to food on a daily basis

2. The Impilo Nutrition Programme:

CCS is currently providing services to 12 Multi Purpose Centres (MPCs) which were used to be referred to as “Community Kitchens” before they started providing a more comprehensive service to OVCs. MPC operators who are all volunteers also benefited by being given an opportunity to do what they like most – which is to provide a comprehensive service to those beneficiaries who cannot help themselves.

The goal remains to reduce the impact of HIV / AIDS on OVCs in the Diocese of Bethlehem. CCS does this by mobilising and strengthening community based responses to provide care and support to these OVCs. Economic strengthening is also provided to volunteers who manage MPCs.

3. The Thuthukani Organisational Development Programme:

Through Thuthukani, CCS provides training both internally and externally. Externally, the organisation works with partners who have a vision of how to change their lives and that of their communities for the better but who lack the skills to organise their plan and implement their ideas. One of CCSs focus areas is the capacity development of community members who will be able to operate and manage projects by themselves either by providing a service to the community or by operating an income generating project for themselves.

The organisation ensures that the projects it works with have a bank account, a board or a committee and a proper constitution. Then projects were assisted to apply for an NPO certificate and trained in fundraising and financial management to ensure that funds are accounted for properly. These trainings were provided both on site and at the John-Paul II Centre in Bethlehem.

Operates in: Bethlehem, Free State
Established in: 1997

Non-Profit Organisation Number: 006-940
Public Benefit Organisation Number:
Section 21 Company Number:
Trust Number:

Contact person: Hubertus von Lindeiner
Phone: 058 303 9447
Fax: 058 303 8584
Email:

Website: www.ccsbhm.co.za

Physical address: Letlotlo House, John-Paul II Centre, Old Fouriesburg Road, Eden, Bethlehem
Postal address: P O Box 1893, Bethlehem, 9700