Community

Cookhouse Wind Farm’s local economic development programmes are designed to be results driven and sustainable – thereby making a lasting difference in the beneficiary communities. Flagship programmes focus on two key areas of Education and Health.

The aim is to build capacity of social structure and change agents through the funding of various socio-economic development programmes that positively address identified local priorities and to empower communities to be economically independent and take ownership of their future.

To achieve this vision, holistic and integrated flagship programmes are implemented to empower the local communities through capacity building, skills transfer and funding of various impact-driven community development projects.

Education

Cookhouse Wind Farm’s education development programmes include funding of:

EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT (ECD)

Cookhouse Wind Farm’s Flagship ECD Programme was launched in 2016, following a comprehensive Baseline Study. This holistic programme is being phased in, with the aim to capacitate ECD Centre practitioners and principals with the required skills and qualifications to ensure stimulation of children within the classroom. It also seeks to ensure that proper management structures and financial management systems are introduced in order for ECD Centres to become sustainable.

To-date Cookhouse Wind Farm has invested across 26 ECD centres and is seeing the massive impact the programme is making on various levels, from capacity building all the way through to young learners who are now entering the formal schooling system, well prepared and confident, across communities of Somerset East, Cookhouse, Bedford and Adelaide.

This programme positively impacts the provision of quality childcare and access for children aged 0 – 6 years, incorporating programmes that are designed to improve the overall functionality and resources of ECD centres.

This flagship project has impacted:

• 2 200 children have directly benefited
• 126 practitioners and principals
• 700 parents across the 4 beneficiary towns
• 28 ECD Centres in 4 beneficiary towns

Direct funding from Cookhouse Wind Farm is used for practitioner training, building and renovation costs, furniture and appliances, educational equipment, nutrition and the purchase of vital resources.

ECD PRACTITIONER AND PRINCIPALS

The programme capacitates ECD Centre practitioners and principals with the required skills and qualifications to ensure stimulation of children within the classroom. It also seeks to ensure that proper management structures and financial management systems are introduced in order for ECD Centres to become sustainable.

By upskilling Practitioners through the provision of accredited training programmes and interventions and ongoing mentoring and coaching, both children and practitioners are supported.

PARENTAL PARTICIPATION AND INVOLVEMENT

Realising that teaching goes beyond the classroom and that parents are their children’s first teachers, a school readiness programme was launched in 2018, incorporating parents from the flagship programme’s ECD Centres. It received resounding support from parents who were further supported by one-on-one mentoring that incorporated home visits.

BUILDING ECD CENTRES

Cookhouse Wind Farm launched its ECD Infrastructure Needs Support Programme in 2019, which followed a detailed Infrastructure Needs Assessment of 28 Centres in the four beneficiary towns.

The first beneficiary of this infrastructure programme was Mini Marvels ECD Centre and Mzamomhle ECD Centre in 2019, which included the building and renovation to increase capacity, reduced overcrowding and improve conditions for the children.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL RESOURCES

Cookhouse Wind Farm has supported the educational needs of the local primary and high schools in Adelaide, Bedford, Cookhouse and Somerset East, by providing funding of educator salaries and the establishment of computer labs and equipment.

Cookhouse Wind Farm has previously provided funding to Adelaide Primêre (Adelaide) and Templeton High School (Bedford).

SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMME

The Cookhouse Wind Farm Scholarship Programme was launched in 2015 and aims to provide tertiary education funding for youth. The focus is to contribute towards human resource development in fields considered critical for the South African economy.

In addition to scholarship funding, the holistic approach has expanded the programme to support the beneficiaries beyond the academics. There are different programmes for the various academic years, dealing with fundamental skills needed for success in studies and life. The programme for final year, Honours and post-graduate students provides support for work readiness, including emotional intelligence and thinking agility.

The Scholarship Programme covers various fields of study at various universities, and it provides tertiary education funding for deserving young students from the local communities.

WIND TURBINE TECHNICIAN PROGRAMME

Cookhouse Wind Farm’s Wind Turbine Technician Training programme addresses one of the most notable skills shortages in the area, the technical skills needed on the wind farm. The tuition fees, working at heights training and trade tests of three local mechatronics students was paid for by Cookhouse Wind Farm, and on-site training at the wind farm provided.

Health

Cookhouse Wind Farm launched the first phase of its Healthcare Flagship Initiative, aimed at strengthening Primary Healthcare in the communities of Bedford, Cookhouse, Somerset East and Adelaide in 2018.

This high impact initiative aims to target quality primary healthcare through resourcing of public clinics.

Following a baseline study that included extensive engagement with the Eastern Cape Department of Health at district level, and a needs analysis of clinics in the wind farm’s beneficiary communities, a programme has been designed to invest in key focus areas. This includes: Ward based Community Healthcare Workers; a Professional and Enrolled Nurse that will be providing health care support to outlaying farm communities in Bedford and Adelaide; and the purchase of medical equipment.

Mobile Clinic Support

In a public-private partnership, Cookhouse Wind Farm funds the appointment of healthcare workers for the Department of Health’s mobile clinic’ in Bedford.

These healthcare workers operate a mobile clinic in Bedford and Adelaide to alleviate stress, travel time and costs to community members.

Welfare

Since 2014 Cookhouse Wind has provided funding to:

• ACVV Somerset East – Somerset East
• Bedford Christian Care Group – Bedford
• Cookhouse Children Foundation – Cookhouse
• CWL Soup Kitchen – Bedford
• Elukhanyisweni Centre for the Elderly – Cookhouse
• Huis Silwerjare – Somerset East
• Luvuyo Special Needs Day Care Centre – Somerset East
• SE Cycling Club – Somerset East
• Siyanceda Homebased Care – Bedford
• Siyanakekela Special Needs Daycare – Adelaide
• Somerset East Child Welfare – Somerset East
• Thembani Special Needs Daycare Centre – Bedford