Community Work Programme: Tackling poverty and unemployment

The Community Work Programme (CWP) is an initiative by the National Government which aims to provide a job safety net for unemployed and underemployed people of working age. The Programme also offers opportunities to unemployed youth who are actively looking for work.

The programme aims to supplement people’s existing livelihood plans by offering a basic level of income security through work. It's an ongoing programme that doesn't replace government’s existing social grants programme but complements it.

CWP sites are being established in marginalised economic areas, both rural and urban, where unemployment is high.  

Participants in the programme work typically 2 days a week or 8 days a month, which provides a predictable income stream.

The CWP is designed as an employment safety net and not an employment solution for participants.

The programme provides them with extra money to support them in their search for full-time or part-time employment. Programme participants do community work, therefore contributing to improvements that benefit all community members.

Success story:

Natasha Davids started as a CWP participant in 2017 at Drakenstein Bewaarskool Early Childhood Development (ECD); she wanted this placement to be able to complete her practical training. She then completed her N6 theory as an ECD practitioner.

She was placed at the Centre as a CWP participant working her 8 days for the programme. She received further training from CWP in February 2018. At the end of 2018, the post of a principal of the Drakenstein Bewaarskool ECD was advertised, Natasha applied and she was appointed as the new principal at the Centre. Her income increased from a CWP stipend of R780 per month to +/- R5000.00 p/m.

"I was so shocked! I never thought I would become a principal one day. I give thanks to God for getting me through this even when I was helping out without getting a salary at first. I started working for CWP and I got paid R780 per month but I never gave up, I pursued my dreams.  I still want to go higher and study further." Natasha said.

Community involvement

The CWP adopted a community development approach to improve service delivery, improve the lives of the vulnerable, poor and marginalised communities and to empower communities.

To check if you qualify to register on the programme, call 012 334 0600.

More information on the CWP is available on their website.

Community Work Programme sites in the Western Cape:

CWP SITES	Implementing Agent	Province	District	Municipality
Beaufort West	Aids Foundation South Africa	Western Cape	Central Karoo	Beaufort West
Laingsburg	Aids Foundation South Africa	Western Cape	Central Karoo	Laingsburg
Prince Albert	Aids Foundation South Africa	Western Cape	Central Karoo	Prince Albert
Bitou	Aids Foundation South Africa	Western Cape	Garden Route	Bitou
George	Aids Foundation South Africa	Western Cape	Garden Route	George
Knysna	Aids Foundation South Africa	Western Cape	Garden Route	Knysna
Mosselbay	Aids Foundation South Africa	Western Cape	Garden Route	Mosselbay
Hessequa	Aids Foundation South Africa	Western Cape	Garden Route	Hessequa
Kannaland	Aids Foundation South Africa	Western Cape	Eden	Kannaland
Oudtshoorn	Aids Foundation South Africa	Western Cape	Eden	Oudtshoorn
Theewaterskloof	Aids Foundation South Africa	Western Cape	Overberg	Theewaterskloof
Swellendam	Aids Foundation South Africa	Western Cape	Overberg	Swellendam
Cape Agulhas	Aids Foundation South Africa	Western Cape	Overberg	Cape Agulhas
Overstrand	Aids Foundation South Africa	Western Cape	Overberg	Overstrand
Breede Valley	Insika Foundation	Western Cape	Cape Winelands	Breede Valley
Witzenberg	Insika Foundation	Western Cape	Cape Winelands	Witzenberg
Drakenstein	Insika Foundation	Western Cape	Cape Winelands	Drakenstein
Stellenbosch	Insika Foundation	Western Cape	Cape Winelands	Stellenbosch
Langeberg			Cape Winelands	Langeberg
Cape Flats	Insika Foundation	Western Cape	City of Cape Town	City of Cape Town
Nyanga/Gugulethu	Insika Foundation	Western Cape	City of Cape Town	City of Cape Town
Khayelitsha	Insika Foundation	Western Cape	City of Cape Town	City of Cape Town
Saldana Bay	Insika Foundation	Western Cape	West Coast	Saldana Bay
Cederberg	Insika Foundation	Western Cape	West Coast	Cederberg
Matzikama	Insika Foundation	Western Cape	West Coast	Matzikama
Swartland	Insika Foundation	Western Cape	West Coast	Swartland