Tlholego - Housing

Tlholego Ecovillage:

A Sustainable Development Project in Rural South Africa

Skills Summary

Tlholego Members Skills Base
Person	Original Skills	Acquired Skills	Aspire to Learn
Kentse Mokgokolo Born on 1963 Arrived at TDP 1991	Unqualified teacher of school children Dance, drama	Basic Permaculture Design: Teaches permaculture to large groups Manages a team of women who grow and process herbal teas and produce Service Industry: Trains community women in skills such as catering and housekeeping, for large groups local and overseas Office manager of the Institute, including bookkeeping Gives guided tours of the current model structures for sustainable technology Community building, social welfare, health care, crisis intervention Runs the community convenience store Ability to interact and exchange experiences with guests from all over the world on a social and teaching level	Drivers license Passing on her knowledge to the children of Tlholego
Fanki Mokgokolo Born in 1957 Arrived at TDP 1993	Sales in carpet industry Assisted with procurements in plumbing industry Political organizational skills during the liberation struggle	General construction experience: Mudbrick building Carpentry Roofing Plumbing Electrical Specialist skills – compost toilets and solar water heaters Advanced permaculture design principles: Ecological land management Chicken production Project management: Team building Record keeping Provides tours at the project for the public to be exposed to living models on sustainable lifestyles Training: Has transferred mudbrick construction techniques to large groups both at Tlholego and at various projects around the country Developed a deep level of understanding of sustainable concepts and has an ability to interact and exchange experiences with guests from all over the world on both a social and teaching basis. Driver and vehicle management	Ecovillage design systems Land and livestock management Training large groups Mastery of the mudbrick building technology and permaculture design for self reliance Empowerment of rural communities

Paul Cohen Founder of TDP 1991 Born in 1959	Bsc in Mechanical engineering at the University of Cape Town Basic skills in building and carpentry Ten years of knowledge in design of permaculture systems, restoring whole ecosystems and building model sustainable communities	Overall project directing and developing of a public education and training centre Fund raising locally and overseas, raising financial support for the ongoing development of the project, and sponsorship of individuals	The refinement of the Tlholego model and it’s replication within the region and the world at large
Stephne Fain Born in 1964 Arrived at TDP 1994 Son David Cohen, born in	Bachelor of Arts Graduate from the University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg majoring in Applied Psychology and Industrial Psychology Ten years experience in holistic healing, counselling individuals using psycho physiological techniques to facilitate development of human potential and transformation	Basic knowledge in permaculture design systems General financial and administrative management skills in the day to day running of Tlholego Human Resources Manager, counselling groups and individuals in day to day lifeskill management How to establish small micro enterprises for the community at Tlholego and market the products	How to develop an autonomous eco-village structure where the talents of individuals and the aspirations of healthy lifestyles for families and the community as a whole can be fully expressed How to create an interest and a vision for people on the ground to value environmental growth for future economic gain and enhancement of the quality of life

Sethanye Nakedi Born in 1942 Arrived at TDP 1994	Traditional food , herb and medicinal knowledge General construction Basic knowledge of farm management Livestock care Donkey husbandry Tractor driver	Traditional construction methods General construction skills Pole and thatch construction Basic permaculture design Tree nursery care Organic agriculture Farm maintenance Water pumps Tractor use and maintenance Livestock care	Large scale organic agriculture production
Mating Njana Born in 1954 Arrived at TDP 1994	Domestic worker	Basic permaculture design principles Co-ordinates garden team. Follows seasonal charts and plans planting Improved literacy Record keeping Catering and housekeeping for large groups
Nene Njana Born in 1974 Mating and Sethanye's eldest daughter	Was a student at Tshedimosong school Matriculated	Ran the community convenience store for two years Responsibility and improved skill handling money Childcare course for 6 weeks Creative play with Tlholego children	How to own and run her own shop
Thabang Nakedi Daughter of Nene Born in 1990	Attends Tshedimosong school	Processing of herbal teas
Modiegi Njana Born in 1986 Youngest daughter of Mating and Sethanye	Attends Tshedimosong school	Improved English language and social skills with foreigners visiting Tlholego
Ntabiseng Nakedi Born in 1983 Arrived at TDP 1995 Foster child of Mating and Sethanye	Student at Tshedimosong	Has improved English language and social skills by ongoing exposure to foreign interns and volunteers visiting Tlholego Live in a safe and caring environment Have learnt how to cater and housekeep for guests staying at the Institute
Stokinyana Nakedi Born in 1984 Arrived at TDP 1995 Foster child of Mating and Sethanye	Student at Tshedimosong	Has improved English language and social skills by ongoing exposure to foreign interns and volunteers visiting Tlholego Live in a safe and caring environment Have learnt how to cater and housekeep for guests staying at the Institute
Nanna Coetzee Born in 1987 Niece of Mating Arrived at TDP 1997	Advanced catering and confectionery skills	Her exposure to a permaculture lifestyle encourages her to stay in the area	Would like to work at Tlholego and be able to apply her skills at the “Grass Roots Café” at Tlholego

Tampoki Dinnloane Born in 1963 Arrived at TDP 1994	Farm labourer	Basic Permaculture Design Mudbrick production and construction Skilled at making bricks and finishing the interior and exterior walls of mudbrick buildings Building projects outside of Tlholego Pole and Thatch construction	How to build his own house for his family
Maditsele Segoanyane Born in 1957 Arrived at TDP 1995	Domestic work and farm labourer	Organic gardening Catering and housekeeping Mudbrick production and building of walls
Karabo Born in 1992 Child of Madistele Raphefo Born in 1997 Child of Madistele	Both children live at Tlholego and attend school

Happy Mokgorong Born in 1969 Arrived at TDP 1995	Farm labourer Conventional building Mine labourer	Mudbrick construction: one of the most astute learners in this technology, even with lack of formal education (language and illiterate disability) Building projects outside of Tlholego Has transferred practical building skills to a large group of women Pole and thatched construction Basic permaculture design
Sophy Van Rooyen Born in 1972 Arrived at TDP in 1996 Daughter Lydia born in 1999	Farm labourer	Organic gardening Catering and housekeeping for large groups of guests visiting Tlholego

Ntsekisang Molefe Born in 1965 Arrived at TDP 1995	Farm labourer	Basic permaculture concepts Mudbrick construction Building projects outside of Tlholego Transfer of building skills to volunteers and interns Pole and thatch construction	Drivers license Build his family a home
Mmamiki Nakedi Born in 1973 Arrived at TDP 1995 Daughter of Nstekisang and Mmamiki Child Masego was born in 1994	Domestic worker and farm labourer	Permaculture design Production, processing and bottling sauces and jams from the garden Herbal tea processing and packaging Transfers permaculture knowledge to volunteers and interns staying at Tlholego Manages the administration centre and dormitory facilities: Record keeping for work done Inventory for catering and housekeeping equipment Co-ordinates and facilitates catering and housekeeping team Improved English speaking and writing	Wants to share her knowledge and practical application on permaculture
Mondisi Molefe Born in 1986 Arrived at TDP in 1997 Son of Ntsekisang	Student at Tshedimosong	Learns from Sethanye how to manage the water on the project Processing of herbal teas

Boytjie Mpheseni Born in 1964 Arrived at TDP 1998