"Making a Difference
Where it Matters"
KYWDEN
Who are We?
‡Khomani San Traditional fire Dance
Our Roots
The ‡Khomani San Indigenous People
We are the descendants of
South Africa's first indigenous people that occupied this land over many thousands of years.
In fact, The San Tribe, or Bushmen as we are commonly called, were the first indigenous residents
of Southern Africa over 30,000 years ago.
We are believed to be the world's most ancient race; because we are direct descendants
of the first humans on earth.
As hunter gatherers we lived off the land and
are well-known for our special relationship and connection with nature , as well as our hunting,
tracking and survival skills.
Our Modern day Reality
Kgalagadi Youth and Women's Development Network
came into being as a grassroots organisation, when a few women got together under the leadership of Anna Festus, a local community leader.
At the time, Anna was personal assistant to, and sibling of the now late,
Dawid Kruiper, Traditional leader for the ‡Khomani San.
As women, we were very concerned about the well-being of
our Community, especially the women and youth.
Facing continuous, age-old discrimination, marginalisation and stigmatisation,
we felt that something had to be done to help ourselves.
Our Solution
We agreed there was a desperate need for, and
that it was of great importance
that an official organisation be established to act as the mouthpiece and facilitator for our various communities.
As such, KYWDEN was officially established in 2009.
KYWDEN
Our organisation provides us with a platform from where
we can now collectively work together, speak in one voice,
and affect change by...
"Making a Difference Where it Matters"
Our Vision and Mission
Our community resides
in the Northern Cape
and Kgalagadi Trans Frontier Park.
Kywden's main purpose is to empower
the ‡Khomani San indigenous youth and women,
as well as other local women and youth,
to improve their lives
across our region.
Our mission is for us to become both socially
and economically self-sufficient, sustainable,
and independently self-reliant.
Working from the closest town
KYWDEN's headquarters is based
in Upington about two hours from
the Kgalagadi National Park
BOTSWANA
Upington
Meet Our Team
Kgalagadi Youth and Women's Development Network,
(Kywden) has been operating across the Northern Cape and Kgalagadi region for the past 13 years already.
Established in 2009 and registered as a Not for Profit Organisation in 2013.
This has allowed us to accountably and legitimately
raise funds for our many projects.
Chairperson: Ms A. Festus, Project Coordinator: Ms D. Festus
Treasurer: Ms C. Petrus, Secretary: Ms M. Festus
Program Coordinators : Ms A. Dodds, Ms M. Bok, Ms R. Cloete
" Together Making a Difference
for Whom it will Matter"
Our Developmental Objectives
Each
TIME A WOMAN STANDS UP FOR HERSELF, SHE STANDS UP FOR ALL WOMEN and GIRLS
The
journey
to change
the world starts
with one
child.
STOP Alchol
& DRUG ABUSE.
IT LEADS TO
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND CHILD ABUSE
Securing a safe future for our children
SEX EDUCATION
NEEDED!
PREVENTION
IS BETTER
THAN THE CURE
STD'S
Our main objectives are to provide community services
and programmes to women and youth,
with particular emphasis on:
* Capacity Building
* Women and Human Rights
* Domestic Violence
* Development and Education of women and girls
* Assisting with the schooling crisis in the Southern Kalahari
and preventing school dropouts.
* HIV/AIDS & Health Care
* Environmental Education
* Youth Empowerment and Advocacy
* Promotion and protection of the Culture and Heritage
of the Indigenous Community within the areas of the
‡Khomani San Community
and
* Building Local Relationships
We aim to act as peace facilitators to maintain good and sustainable relationships amongst the various communities e.g.
The ‡Khomani San Community, Welkom, Askham,
and The Greater Mier Communities
Plus, critically too...
We aim to liaise and build strong positive work relations
with the various service organisations within the area.
KEEP KIDS IN SCHOOL.
Education
is the Great
Equaliser
Our
cultural heritage
is our
identity
CLIMATE CHAnGE IS A REALITY. EDUCATION
IS NEEDED
strong partnerships lead to positive results
AcCESSIBLE
Health Care
for All where
they need it
Our First Nation Human Rights
As an Indigenous First Nation People
whose human rights were violated,
who were actively persecuted, marginalised, and oppressed
- similar to so many indigenous people of the world -
our situation has not really changed much.
We are still facing discrimination in so many ways,
to this very day, even after democracy.
“It is the knowledge and contribution
of our elders that gives us confidence
to claim our inheritance and heritage.”
Anna Festus
KYWDEN Chairperson,
and sibling to the late Dawid Kruiper
Dawid Kruiper,
The late Khomani San Leader,
succesfully achieved a land claim for his people.
Historical Background on Indigenous Peoples of the World
Indigenous Peoples are the oldest populations in the
world, and have been marginalised and excluded
from mainstream society for countless years.
Despite our resilience and determination to
survive as groups with distinct cultures, heritage, languages, values and ways of life, our continued
survival remains at risk, as we still face significant challenges and rights violations on a daily basis.
As Indigenous Peoples we remain vulnerable in
modern society, being disproportionately impacted
by structural forms of discrimination through
poverty, marginalisation, negative stigmatisation,
and lack of political power.
All of this results in numerous ongoing human rights violations. With goodwill, dialogue and cooperation, this can and should be stopped.
"Making a difference for the Indigenous Peoples of the World"
International Relations and Alliances
Since its inception, KYWDEN has represented
the ‡Khomani San on local, national and international platforms, on issues affecting
Indigenous Peoples and their ongoing struggle for the recognition of our rights.
As an organisation we have formed good relationships and
alliances with well-established international networking organisations, fighting for the cause of recognition of
Indigenous People's Rights
*
Amongst other platforms, KYWDEN was, and still is,
participating in some of the United Nation's bodies dealing
with Indigenous People's issues, such as:
The Annual Session of the UN's Permanent Forum
on Indigenous Issues
UNPFII serves as an advisory body that provides expert advice
and recommendation on indigenous issues to the
Economic and Social Council of the UN
The Annual Session of the Expert Mechanisms
on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
EMRIP provides expertise and advice on the rights of
Indigenous Peoples to the UN Human Rights Council
KYWDEN In Action
KWYDEN managed to obtain emergency funding through its good international alliances
to assist our indigenous and local communities during the hard times that the Covid-19 pandemic brought to our shores.
Committee members sitting in their
small zinc Head Quarters hard at
work packing all the parcels.
300 Dignity packs for the youth in
3 communities (150 boys, 150 girls)
370 Covid-19 Kits in 2 communities (sanitisers, masks, soap, bleach,
Dettol, water buckets)
We thank our generous benefactors who so kindly came to our assistance
during these trying times.
50 Dignity packs to AJ Ferreira, a local
secondary school
Food provision for 300 households
in 3 communities
"Making a Difference Where and When it Matters Most"
Our Future Vision
We envision the establishment of eco-tourism experiences which are unique to our area.
These activities include, but are not limited, to:
* Gathering and preparing of traditional food
*Traditional campfire dances and song
*Traditional star-readings
*Storytelling
*Traditional hunting and tracking.
Gathering and preparing of traditional food where even scorpions are edible
Storytelling
Traditional star-reading
These unique eco-tourism experiences will also ensure a sustainable income for the community, and will bring relief from poverty.
This will partly fulfil our vision of self-sufficiency and independence.
Preserving our Heritage
Traditional hunting and tracking is a very important custom of our people
which is , very sadly, almost dying out.
Our vision of the establishment of unique
eco-tourism activities and experiences,
will ensure that the traditional knowledge is
passed on to the younger generation to preserve;
helping them to connect with nature again; teaching them about the plants, animals, seasons, climate;
how to live sustainably; how to tread lightly on the Earth; sharing with them all the traditional ancient spiritual knowledge of their ancestors,
so that they get to know their roots again,
gain a sense of place, belonging and pride in themselves;
and heal the scars of discrimination,
marginalisation and negative stigmatisation.
These eco tourism activities will also ensure gainful employment that brings relief in poverty and ensures self-reliance, whilst preserving our rich ancient wisdom and culture.
Rock paintings show that the ancient San hunted Oryx
The Khomani San have a deep Spiritual connection with the Eland
Plant known as
Bushman's Candle
This is the Hoodia plant which acts like an appetite suppressant . When out on long hunting trips the
hunters would use it to suppress their hunger and thirst. It also provided them with energy.
"Making a Difference that Really Matters"
Cooperation Can Make a Difference
Kywden's secondary objective is to collaborate with other organisations
and groups that deal with the same issues as we do. Sharing
knowledge and experience will shorten the learning curve.
We aim to initiate and support specific projects which will contribute to the
improvement of the lives of other indigenous youth and women,
by promoting their economic, social, cultural, human,
political and legal rights, and allowing them to build their own lives.
We are further committed to motivating
women in the Southern Kalahari geographical
areas to form self-help groups and to gain access to government grants
for their economic development and social upliftment .
Our Current Outreach Projects
The establishment of a workshop/curio shop for the women in the Kalahari
to assist with their traditional arts
and crafts making projects.
Assisting our !Xun and Khwe community in Platfontein
with water tanks to minimise their water shortage
problem, and to secure food provision through the establishment of food gardens.
"Making a Difference Where and When it Matters Most"
Help us Make a Difference Where it Matters
Help us lift ourselves from poverty and marginalisation.
Assist us in becoming self-sufficient by physically and financially supporting our initiatives.
Fight along with us against discrimination, marginalisation and human rights abuses.
Accept us and support us, learn from us about the land, the stars, the food from the veld.
Acknowledge and be proud, along with us, about of our mutual heritage...
We are your ancient ancestral partners
in our dearly beloved
South Africa and this planet.
KYWDEN
We want to rise and shine again.
Our youth and women are suffering,
and need protection, support and upliftment.
Established 2009 Kgalagadi Youth and Women's Development Network
2013 Registered as Not for Profit Organisation NPO 123-582
Help Sponsor a Project Today
Show You Care... Help Change Their World
Please Call me
Project Coordinator:
Baba Festus
+27 (0)64 880-3209
"Together We Can Make a Difference Where it Matters"
More ideas...
* Persuade your friends to also help...
* Get your place of work to assist via its social responsibility programme...
* Offer your skills...
* Mention our cause to influential people...
* Sponsor a child's schooling...
* Get your children's school, your church, or sport, or hobby, or book,
or birding club to hold a fund raising event.
Every action, every positive gesture, every cent
that YOU initiate...
"Will Help us Make a Difference Where it Matters"
Contact Us @ KYWDEN
We, the Kgalagadi Youth and Women's Development Network,
want to thank you for reading all about us and our vision
these past 13 years where we started in 2009, to becoming
a registered Not for Profit (NPO 123-582) in 2013,
to where we are now in a post Pandemic reality
and our challenges have become even greater.
We operate across the Northern Cape and Kgalagadi region, from where
we warmly invite you to please come and visit us, see our projects,
get to know our culture, as well as, experience the beauty of our region.
You will discover why we love it so.
Here are Our Contact Details
Call us
Director: Anna Festus
+27 (0)79 851-3116
Write to us
kywden4@gmail.com
Follow us
https://kywden.co.za
Visit us
33 Appiesboom Street,
Rosedale, Upington,
South Africa, 8801
Here are Our Funding Details
We are a Registered NPO 123-582
To make a contribution, donation
or assist us in sponsoring a project.
Please call me
Project Coordinator:
Baba Festus
+27 (0)64 880-3209
Our Gratitude
If you have decided to assist us,
in whatever way you can,
please accept our sincerest gratitude.
We can assure you it is much appreciated,
and will make a positive difference for many.
KYWDEN
"Making a Difference Where it Matters"
Created in Canva by Maryna Kruger ©2022