Although the NRASD’s faith networks are encouraged to be creative in the projects they propose, such projects must relate to the following focus areas (areas of collaboration):

1. Early childhood development

2. Home and community-based care

3. Skills training and access to information

4. Social capital and social cohesion

5. Social housing, including emergency and transitional shelter

1. Early childhood development (ECD)

ECD is an umbrella term that applies to the processes by which children from birth to at least nine years of age grow and thrive, on physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, moral and social levels.  ECD services are mainly provided by non-governmental organisations and community-based organisations.

Areas of cooperation are improved management capacity, the provision of physical, material and human resources, and the facilitation of the communication link between the community, the NGO training agencies and government.

Home and community-based care involves the provision of comprehensive services.  Home-based care includes the provision of health and social services by formal and informal caregivers in the home and community in order to promote, restore and maintain the maximum level of comfort, function and health for individual members, including care towards a dignified death.

The services focus on the family as a whole and can be classified into preventative, therapeutic, rehabilitative, long-term maintenance and palliative care categories.

There are numerous skills training initiatives in the government system provided and undertaken by institutional and contractual arrangement, with public education and training providers, particularly FET (further education and training) colleges and private education and training providers playing a critical role.  In this regard, FET colleges are known to be suitable institutions to train for intermediate skills, which have been proven to be in short supply in the economy.

Within the framework of the proposed areas of cooperation, the following areas have been identified for possible cooperation:

• skills training (technical and life skills);
• ABET (adult basic education and training) programmes; and
• assisting designated groups, including new entrants to participate in accredited work, integrated learning and work-based programmes to acquire critical skills to enter the labour market and self-employment.

Government has approved a national ABET programme for the religious sector.  This programme holds a number of benefits for religious congregations and communities.  A project brief has been created that contains more information on the programme.  To view the project brief, click here.

4.Social capital and social cohesion

The Department of Arts and Culture proposes three possible areas of cooperation between the state and religious networks:

4.1 Arts and culture in society

The basic aim of this programme is to stimulate, nurture and protect the arts and culture of the country.  It focuses on institutional building, promotes access to arts and culture and advances moral regeneration in society.  The programme also promotes gender equity in socio-economic and cultural development, such as the moral regeneration project, art in prisons and community art centres.

4.2 Cultural development and international relations

This programme is designed to promote economic opportunities for cultural industries, promote international cultural relations and promote South African arts and culture locally, regionally and internationally.

The programme is aimed at building mutually beneficial partnerships and to ensure the self-sustainability of the sector.  Cultural industries include films, television, music and books, as well as the craft sector.

4.3 Heritage promotion

This programme is aimed at guiding, sustaining and developing heritage institutions of the country in order to ensure good governance.  The Department of Arts and Culture identified a need for an awareness and education campaign on heritage, a need to promote a culture of reading and writing, for the promotion of South African films, and for capacity-building programmes.

• transitional housing;
• rental housing with communal facilities; and
• institutionalised care for people with special housing needs.