About MARU Maru is registered in South Africa as not for Profit Company under section 21 of the companies act. Maru was established to respond to social development needs and environmental challenges that are faced by the majority of the South Africans. Maru Focuses on community development through the implementation of various programmes to alleviate poverty, create jobs, develop enterprises, preserve natural resources and bring about social cohesion and nation building. Maru believes that through partnerships with local communities, government and civil society organisations tangible, sustainable and equitable social-economic benefits shall be realised. Our GOALS Maru s goal is for a sustained improvement in the quality of life of the previously disadvantaged South African communities. Together with our strategic partners and donors, we deliver programmes of action that encapsulates initiatives on a local, regional, national and international level, to support the rights and aspirations of rural and disadvantaged communities to start and manage their own businesses, manage natural resources and actively participate in the South African economy. Our VISION We VALUE To be the leading institution that promotes the integration of communities into natural resources and the preservation of heritage and culture through capacity building, enterprise development and strategic partnerships. Time Trust Integrity Excellence Benefits sharing and Transparency OUR OPERATIONAL NETWORK Maru Ciberconnect has its head office in Gauteng but does work in all the nine provinces. Where possible and necessary satellite offices are setup so as to make it easy for the implementation of the various programs. Maru has established very good relationship and track record over the past 7 years with different communities, private and public companies as well as civil society organisations. 1
Our SERVICE OFFERING Mobilising and Facilitating better collaboration between communities and government instructions Promoting the Preservation of Arts, Heritage and Culture leading to social cohension and nation building. Empowering women and youth in food security and farming through designed tools and programmes that can be used to develop small holder farmers to run their farms in a sustainable way there by generating the much needed economic benefits and creating jobs for the unemployed. Project and programme management: Our highly qualified project managers oversee the overall running of projects and programmes in the areas where we operate in different sectors Enterprise and Business Development training in Accredited and non-accredited areas as follows: New Venture Creation Corporate and Cooperative Governance Financial Management & Costing Principles of Business Management Conflict Management Project Management & Implementation Presentation & Public Speaking Skills Small Business Management programme Community Based Natural Recourse Management End User Computing Business Mentorship Communication and fostering Awareness on environmental management through Community outreach meetings and imbizos with rural communities and other stakeholders. 2
Our PROJECTS Enterprise Development for SMMEs Participating on Jozi@work programme Jozi@Work is a co-production programme by the City of Johannesburg. It was launched on the 30th of September 2014 with work packages valued at just over R1 billion. The programme was designed to create an opportunity for communities to partner with the City in the delivery of municipal services in their own neighbourhoods. It was also aimed at shifting mind-sets by turning job seekers into job creators. This was in a bid to aid socio-economic transformation that would reduce poverty, inequality and unemployment in the seven regions across the City of Johannesburg. Maru was sub contracted to developed tools and methodologies that were used to assess the level of readiness of SMMEs to conduct business with the city and develop and implement raining programmes to upskill participating beneficiaries. Designed and participated in the Implementation of the Pfunanani Enterprise Development Programme for communities living adjacent Sabi Sand Game Reserve and Kruger National Park as a Programme Manager: The Pfunanani Enterprise Development programme was designed to capacitate communities living around Sabi Sand Game Reserve and Kruger National Park and link them to business opportunities within the protected areas. In partnership with Sabi Sand Game Reserve, and University of Johannesburg, we raised R18, 000, 000 (Eighteen Million Rands) from the Jobs Fund for this purpose. The implementation of the project run for two years, i.e August 2014 August 2016. 3
Our PROJECTS Research, design and implementation of Arts, Heritage and Culture programmes focusing on: Documentation of Khoisan Heritage and Culture as told by the Khoi and San communities through photo stories Research on Eastern Cape Traditional Heritage and culture Promotion of Social Cohesion and Nation building through the teaching of the word of God to stop xenophobic attacks Hosted a national event to celebrate 100 Years of Nelson Mandela through arts, heritage and cultural activities. This event brought together national leaders to share their memories of Nelson Mandela. The young and old captured photos and wrote short stories about the Mandela Heritage and these have been compiled into a book. Implementation of ICTs for Development for Communities living adjacent Kruger National Park: In partnership with Resource Africa and Southern Africa Wildlife College, we raised over R14, 000, 000 (Fourteen Million Rands) for Enterprise Development for communities around Kruger National Park. Our role was to design and implement ICTs for development to these communities. This involved training and issuing of computers to Enterprises developed under this program. The program ran for two years i.e. 2012 to 2014 4
Our PROJECTS Research on Community Perspectives on Rhino Poaching: Maru was sub contracted by Resource Africa and funded by WWF to conduct a research on Community Perspectives on Rhino Poaching for communities living adjacent Kruger National Park from the Northern Part to the Southern Park of Kruger. END 5
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