After almost 50 years of contact with rural poverty and hands on participation in efforts to fight aspects of human deprivation in the Black community of the RSA, I hope that I can humbly speak my mind on the subject. Exposure to poverty alleviation programmes, as well as different aspects of liberating development – also in other countries – have brought me, as I walked with colleagues from the formerly disadvantaged community and other concerned people, to some conclusions that I would like to present as an agenda for further discussion. I know that I am a layman when it comes to technical aspects of law and economics. I will depend on wisdom from those sectors to make what I have to say ready for take-off.
CONTENTS: [Revised January 2006]
- For the Executive: a brief Paraphrase
- THE POOR MAN’S CAPITAL - The Bridging of the Gap - A Proposal -
- Second Economy: Proposal for the Generation of CAPITAL
for Community Based Co-operative Projects
- An Agenda for Discussion
1 Rev Eddie Bruwer is a retired missionary and development consultant. After some years of pioneering work in the deep rural areas of northern South Africa, and some time as mission secretary of the Dutch Reformed Church, he co-founded CAN (Church Action in Need), a grassroots ecumenical organisation working with the poor. Since the 1970s he was deeply involved in this work. For the last 10 years of his ministry he was Secretary for Charitable Services of the Uniting Reformed Church. He is the author of Beggars can be Choosers. His contact details are the following: 16 Piet Retief Street, Kestell, South Africa 9860; e-mail bruwereddie@telkomsa.net; tel/fax 27(0)58 653 1317; mobile +27(0)82 325 210.
