Swedish partner: Regionförbundet Södra Småland

Leseding – give light (Adult education 2)

Leseding is a two-year project sprung from a previous project focusing on Adult Education in South Africa and Sweden. The two areas of focus are career guidance and curriculums.

The South African side wish to develop their career guidance using “the Växjö-model” of Centralen as a starting point (www.centralen.vaxjo.se). In South Africa career guidance today is not as accessible but through the project a plan for and pilot project of career guidance at one of the ABET centres and the city library will set up and implemented.

The Swedish side consisting of Alvesta, Lessebo and Växjö municipalities wish to develop new curriculums using the way South Africa combines theoretical and vocational training in order to find a new method of work to motivate the students to continue their studying and to reduce drop-outs. This means the two participating countries will act as learners in one case and experts in another.

Several visits to each country will take place as well as home based work in between in order to reach the expected results of implementing new curriculums in Alvesta, Lessebo and Växjö as well as making career guidance more accessible to the community in Potchefstroom. These visits will include study visits, in-depth discussions and internships in order for the participants to take part of the daily work and get a full understanding of how it is conducted. The project will start in November 2009 and end November 2011.

The objectives of the project are:

  • to do an in-depth study of the Växjö-model for student guidance including management of such centre and skills development in order to create something similar adapted to the conditions in Potchefstroom;
  • to create new curriculums for the Swedish adult education in Växjö. Lessebo and Alvesta combining basic and vocational training;
  • to create a “meeting place/learning centre” for basic skills (Swedish/Math) to be used together with work practice/knowledge of life and Swedish culture.
Project Area
Education
Swedish partner
Regionförbundet Södra Småland
International partner
Tlokwe City Council

Public Relations Best Practice – Internal Communications

By changing the present approach of inadequate internal communication at the Tlokwe City Council to an ongoing, two-way symmetric approach in which the latest technology is utilized by qualified, well-resourced officials to reach strategic communication goals which includes well-informed and motivated officials. This should result in better service delivery, which in turn supports the democratic culture. And in a longer perspective lead to the overall objective:

An organizational context conducive to a continuous internal communication where all members share a common vision, mission and values (which there today is a lack of).

Within two years the project objective to develop and start implement a comprehensive internal communication strategy, driven by a well-resourced Communication Section, supported by all key stakeholders and utilizing all available as well as possible newly established internal channels, should be reached.

Project Area
Inclusive leadership and governance
Swedish partner
Regionförbundet Södra Småland
International partner
Tlokwe City Council

Youth development program

The overall objective is the strengthening of youth leadership that has the expertise to work with local democratic development, leadership in multicultural environments and harsh environments of the sport as an arena. 

The following objectives will be implemented during the project: 

  • An internet-based training will be conducted for at least twenty leaders.
  • Exchanges programs will be implemented in each country.
  • At least two associations in Kronoberg will create a plan to sponsor exchange/work.
  • All Kronoberg municipalities should be represented in the Project. Information and training will be implemented in all municipalities in Kronoberg.
  • An exchange activities for the second project year should be planned and prepared during the first project year.
  • North West Academy of Sport will extend the contracts/grant period for at least five youths (so called Community Development Officers). During the second project year a further exchange of at least five youths per country enforced, whom appears as volunteers in the association/sporting activities.
  • During the second project year it should start up a sponsorship with two host associations from Kronoberg and create a concept for an Internet-based education, in terms of both content and form.
Project Area
Culture, leisure, sport and/or tourism
Swedish partner
Regionförbundet Södra Småland
International partner
Tlokwe City Council

Politician Project: Leadership, Coalitions & Voters

The overall objective (10-15 years) is to strengthen democracy and structures of good governance at local and regional level in the two regions (Kronoberg/southern Småland and Tlokwe). The long-term objective includes highly attractive political parties, competent party workers and good leaders with the skill to cooperate with other parties and communicate with the citizens/community.

In a changing political landscape, the parties upright hold their democratic position and develop methods for active participation by the voters. The political parties work out of different ideological platforms (goals, values, solutions) but always with the local citizens in absolute focus.

The project objective (within three years) implies the establishment of a new platform for cooperation between local and regional politicians in Kronoberg/southern Småland and Tlokwe.

The platform is built upon identification, exchanging of and learning from political best practices.

Project Area
Inclusive leadership and governance
Swedish partner
Regionförbundet Södra Småland
International partner
Tlowke City Council

Project for Rescue Service

This new project is a logical continuation of the ICLD funded inception project Rescue Service between Region Kronoberg and Tlokwe City Council which was very successful.

The main problem of this project is how can the Rescue Service (Fire Brigade Service) get a more effective rescue operation with existing resources. There are many factors that can explain why the Rescue Services (Fire Brigade Services) are not as efficient as they could be. Some of the factors are fields which we cannot have an effect on within this project and other fields are highly relevant for this project to develop.

The long term overall objectives:

  • Fewer people are killed in accidents.
  • Prevent the loss of and damage to the wealth accumulated by the community.
  • Usage of resources in an optimal way.
  • Minimization of the cost for the society.
  • None of the staff getting hurt during a rescue operation.
  • The residents and visitors in the municipality feel safe and secure.
  • Secure investment in the community.

The project is to develop a method for skills development at the respective Rescue Service (Fire Brigade Services) with existing resources. With existing resources we mean both financial and human resources, and with the human resources we need to take advantage of the expertise that already exists within the both organizations.

Project Area
Technical Services and Infrastructure
Swedish partner
Regionförbundet Södra Småland
International partner
Tlokwe City Council