The empowerment of Rural Area Communities (RACs) has been an issue of great debate over the past few years. As such, the Kgalagadi District Council (KDC) in collaboration with the Department of Social Services (DSS), will on the 16th-17th March 2012 hold a market day under the theme: Marketing our culture, crafts and natural resources in the Kgalagadi: Action for all, living the dream and vision for a poverty free generation in Remote Area Communities.
The upcoming market day is henceforth an initiative by the KDC to empower and emancipate the residents of this locality, who have been largely marginalised by the inaccessibility of this region.
Furthermore, the residents of these respective RACs namely; Inalegolo, Phuduhudu, Make, Monong, Ncaang, Ngwatle, Zutshwa, Ukhwi, Khawa and Kokotsha are composed mostly of individuals who have low socio-economic status and thus lack the business skills required to market and sell their indigenous products.
Thus it can be said that, the main premise of this market day will be to engage the residents of these RACs in creating sustainable income generating projects and as such alleviate them from poverty which is a major concern in this region. Hon. B. Tshireletso is billed to give a key note address at this event and it is anticipated that her address to the public will cover issues relating to the role locally made goods have in the on-going Nyeletso Lehuma campaign.
Furthermore, the core objectives of this market day refer to;
- Promoting self esteem and enhancing social cohesion among Remote Areas Communities.
- Giving and providing a platform for the development of RAC marketing skills.
- Reaching out to new audience, potential buyers and networking.
- To formulate and promote a coherent and cultural arts and crafts investment strategy for RACs within the Kgalagadi District.
During the RAC Market Day there will be a large assortment of goods on exhibition which amongst others will include, arts and crafts, beadwork, leather work, tannery, bakery products, sewing and knitting and many more. It must further be noted that the above noted goods also play a role in Local Economic Development (LED), in the sense that the producers of these goods supply their respective localities with these goods and as such create a multiplier effect for the communities in which they operate. In closing initiatives such as Market Days reduce community reliance on government social safety nets and as such encourage RACs to be economically active and self-sustainable.