Our goal for a thriving community:
Bergrivier Pulse envisions a community where every member actively participates in its development. By fostering community ownership and promoting local philanthropy, we aim to create a self-sustaining ecosystem where the collective contributions of individuals lead to impactful and lasting positive change.
Join us in building a community that takes pride in its ownership, actively supports its initiatives, and embraces the spirit of giving for a brighter, more prosperous Bergrivier municipal area. Together, we can shape a future that reflects the shared values and aspirations of our community.
Citizenship Engagement Programme
The Citizenship Engagement programme is aimed at combating political and general societal apathy through the formation of Communities of Interest and supporting their engagement with developmental agencies around issues that negatively affect community development.
Activities include facilitating events with members of the community, for example, hosting ward conferences where community issues are articulated, debated, and prioritised.
These events result in community representatives who are passionate about a particular community development issue, being selected to engage with municipal decision makers around them. The aim of the events is to encourage active citizenship and increased awareness of community needs at a decision maker level.
The other main activity under this programme is the development of a digital platform containing web-based municipal project implementation and budget tracking system. At the core of this digital platform is a web-based municipal project implementation and budget tracking system, which will utilise and distil data from the municipal Service Delivery and Budget Implementation Plan (SDBIP) to share with the communities the progress of the implementation of IDP priorities.
This web-based system – a user-friendly website – will enable locals to track budgets spent on community priorities as well as hold municipal officials accountable for service delivery. The results of the web-based system will be used by CoIs and ward committees to lobby and advocacy for more transparency and community involvement. Furthermore, this website will serve as the main platform for integrating the results of all three components of this project and linking their activities. This means that the website will inform users on the results of component 2 and 3 and how these results are reflected and picked up upon at the IDP hearings. The website will be made public through town-based events and social media platforms. Finally, the website will be used to pilot and test public participation events with regards to IDP related topics.
History of ICA
The ICA evolved from the South African Youth Leaders Network (SAYLN) into a community foundation operating in the West Coast district of the Western Cape.
The SALYN, established in June 2015, was a membership-based network of youth-focused NGOs in the country.
Since its reconfiguration into a Community Foundation in early 2018, ICA has been instrumental in the development of a number of sustainable development programmes in the district. ICA has an intergenerational approach to development in a rural context, having shifted focus from exclusively young people.
It has established local community development funds, is engaged in local fundraising initiatives and was successful in securing funding for humanitarian responses during the COVID-19 lockdown. The organisation channelled both community and local government funding for this purpose.
ICA has been driving local entrepreneurship, convening several events for entrepreneurs, and referring small businesses for funding to local development agencies like the National Youth Development Agency.
The organisation has been engaged with and received acknowledgement from two local municipalities (Bergrivier and Cederberg Municipalities) in the district. These initiatives are geared towards community-led development where communities unlock local assets, use indigenous knowledge, exercise their leadership and demand power, and engage in processes to improve the quality of life at the local level.
ICA Programmes: ICA currently has two main programmes: Citizenship Engagement Programme and Community Affiliated fund programme.
Empowering the Bergrivier community through our nonprofit organization's endeavors aligns seamlessly with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Our impact is evident in key areas:
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Making a substantial difference, we’ve successfully contributed to a 32% reduction in poverty within the Bergrivier community.
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Our dedicated efforts have resulted in a significant 64% decrease in instances of hunger, ensuring more families have access to nutritious food.
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Focused on enhancing the overall well-being of the community, we’ve achieved a commendable 72% improvement in health outcomes.
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Paving the way for a brighter future, our initiatives have positively impacted education, leading to a noteworthy 64% enhancement in the quality of education provided.
These statistics reflect our commitment to creating positive and sustainable change, illustrating the tangible outcomes of our work in the Bergrivier community. The information provided above comes from our research conducted in 2023 within the Bergrivier nonprofit sector.
Our core values
VISION
Our vision is to see communities flourishing and resilient, empowered by their collective agency and generosity. We believe in the transformative power of individuals coming together to create positive change.
MISSION
Our mission is to mobilize and channel resources effectively, fostering community participation and strengthening organizational capacity.
Community
Through our commitment to people-centered approaches, we strive to empower individuals and communities to take ownership of their futures.