The project has been designed as a practical business and enterprise development incubator, and it will recruit, train and mentor unemployed individuals as business unit caretakers, admin and support officers, and pothole doctors in the developing social entrepreneurship arena. 

The project was designed using a cluster model, with each cluster comprising of 5 independently managed business units positioned within a social-economic franchise model.

The enterprise will start with a pilot in the Govan Mbeki municipal area, Mpumalanga; with the units being responsible for the following areas:

1. Secunda and Trichardt
2. Charl Cilliers and eMbalenhle 
3. Evander and Kinross 
4. Leandra and Eendricht 
5. Bethal and eMzinoni 

Following a successful pilot operation, the model will be replicated across other municipal areas in South Africa where there is a need.

This programme is structured to leverage CSR, Social Economic and Enterprise Development funding mechanisms as well as marketing budgets of large and medium corporations. Profits generated will be shared between the programme expansion cost and beneficiaries.

This briefing document is consistent with the South African government unemployment and poverty strategies and policies.

The Adopt-a-Pothole programme is an initiative of Empowerment Gateway, who is itself a social-economic enterprise. In addition various international organisations and individuals focused on the development of the Social-Economic arena continue to provide expert advice and support.

The programme now requires:

• Start-up funding for pilot project, in order to start operating in August 2009.
• Municipal Mayoral Committees authorization to repair potholes in the roads under their custodianship.
• On-going and once-off sponsors and pothole adopters.
  

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Last Modified 07/09/09