The Model

Experience has shown that one good project in isolation cannot break the stranglehold of poverty. We have, therefore, over the past 10 years, put in place an integrated community-development model, which is made up of 17 interlocking projects that farm workers and their children can access at any point.

We compare this model to a marathon, rather than a sprint, because the race against poverty requires stamina. In addition, the 17-project process is a long journey that begins before the child is born and continues until early adulthood.

The Threads

In order for POP to alleviate poverty and build healthy, educated, self-confident, well-trained farm communities, we focus on developing the self-esteem, capacity and skills of the youth — the future generation — in order to help them break free from their damaging and dysfunctional family environments.

As such, there are four golden threads that weave their way throughout our 17 projects. They are:

1. Health
2. Education
3. Personal Development
4. Care for the Earth

Breaking the poverty cycle

The biggest challenge facing POP is to break the cycle of poverty. Historically, poverty has been the fate of most rural communities. Poor education, alcoholism, violence to women and children, Foetal Alcohol Syndrome, low self-esteem and a general lack of skills, high rates of TB and now increasingly HIV/Aids are part of the poverty cycle and take their toll on the quality of life.

Our Challenge

Over the next 10 years, we would like to put an additional
10 000 children — from 10 POP centres — onto the Path out of Poverty. It is our hope that once all the olive trees are bearing fruit, POP will be able to support itself. Children who are on the Path out of Poverty will have access to healthcare, education and life-skills training, thus allowing them the opportunity to reach their greatest potential.

The Results

The POP programme’s achievements are evident in the confident faces of our young adults — the girls and boys who have, despite the odds, stayed in school and on the Path out of Poverty programme for the past ten years.

POP has proved that:

• Children born into poverty with Foetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) and Foetal Alcohol Effect (FAE) can become confident and happy young adults capable of making a contribution to the community
• Children thrive if they are loved, fed, clothed, educated, counselled and protected from harm
• School drop-out rates of children on the Path are slashed
• Youngsters who stay faithful to a good youth project avoid early-teenage pregnancy
• POP graduates have a lower rate of unemployment than the non-POP community
• POP graduates have better confidence, self-esteem and social skills than their non-POP peers
• Communication and life skills are developed by exposure to visiting schools from overseas
• The POP Safe House model provides an indigenous and community-based answer to caring for vulnerable children on farms.