KNYSNA NEWS - August is all about celebrating all things women, and one such story is about a group called Yakhanani Society, of women equipping themselves with "tools" that not only help them but benefit other women in their neighbourhood too.
This group has been acquiring a little arsenal of the one item arguably most needed at funerals, weddings or birthday parties: the humble food plate.
Based on the rotational *stokvel principle, society members each month contribute R100 towards a "plate fund" that one member gets in order to stock up on these necessary catering items. There are so far 14 groups of five members each, scattered all over town and even stretching as far as Plettenberg Bay.
The Knysna-born founder Thembeka Zweni says one might not see the value of collecting so many plates until they have an event on a limited budget. "The plates that we each have might not be enough to cater for an event, but when you have a village of women who are on standby and ready to assist with their plates and whatever else you need free of charge, you can rest assured you're in good hands," Zweni explains.
The 51-year-old says she has joined several societies because she has divorced herself from the the mentality to expect help from others, instead finding ways how she and the group of women she is working with can help themselves. – Nwabisa Pondoyi
* A savings or investment society to which members regularly contribute an agreed amount and from which they receive a lump sum payment.
The industrious women from Yakhanani Society.
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