About us

Our Story

The history of the foundation and well-intentioned giving throughout the poorest parts of the all Provinces in RSA has been rife with problems, obstacles and outright failures. Recent development efforts have pursued a community-focused model, placing a greater emphasis on social development and human empowerment. Icembe Foundation approach arises from this ideal - that community development, done properly, can significantly improve peoples lives and the welfare of entire communities.

Icembe Foundation founding members began their locally based community development work at the grassroots level, working in impoverished communities from Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Limpopo. They experienced first hand the challenges facing these regions and partnered with community groups, organizations, and local visionary leaders to address core issues like poor health, lack of education, and social inequity.

Over the years, as Icembe members’ work in the development field has diversified, each of us has remained steadfast in our belief in one aspect of development: effective sustainable development must empower communities and increase the capacity of local organizations to address development needs. This model is comprehensive with notions of justice, dignity, and true community participation. Sound development practices attend to the basic needs of a region.

Local people, communities, and organizations are best equipped to guide development in their communities. Sustainable development has not successfully progressed in many parts of the world because traditional aid and development policy has not properly engaged the intended recipients of development funds. The Icembe model advocates for a greater investment in people and their capacity for creating real change.

Icembe approach gains a wider perspective on social struggles in development because it addresses root causes and is built on legal foundations, with community participation as a core component. Our model is to enhance the holistic support for a community by delivering capacity-building services to organizations that work in seven key areas: health, education, small business development, social justice, women’s empowerment, HIV/AIDS, and the environment.

At the same time, we support and partner with the leaders, grassroots groups, and organizations that have already made strides towards improving their communities. Icembe Foundation work aims to bridge the gaps, helping partner organizations overcome the obstacles that their initial community development initiatives. We provide resources, seed funds, technical training, and hire local personnel to create an environment where local people driving development come together and support each other. As community development strives to build upon the strengths and capacities of people, it is intimately connected to the needs, rights and will of the community in order to bring about structural change.

This is just the beginning of our story. We hope that it is one that resonates with you and that you’ll share it with friends and find a way to personally get involved

Mission

Support, inspire, grow and develop the community.

Vision

To create job opportunities for the previously disadvantaged individuals whilst equipping them with skills that will further help them grow.

Our Guiding Values

Local communities should be the driving forces for their own social and economic development Stability grows out of grassroots participation and inclusion Capacity building and empowerment are key principles of sustainable development Ensuring that women have a voice and equal access to community resources increases the likelihood of successful community development efforts Marginalized people must be provided a space in the community development process Leading by example supports community development efforts in fundamentally important ways Working with multiple stakeholders increases communication and support for a community's development projects Integrating appropriate technologies increases the likelihood of cost-effective sustainable projects Involving youth ensures that long-term community development initiatives have stronger roots