Bloom seeks an alternative approach.

Many well-intended initiatives seek to help poor, disadvantaged, or otherwise vulnerable people. However, many initiatives define people by needs and deficiencies. ‘Solutions’ roll into a community from outsiders with little understanding of local contexts, and often without even consulting members of a community. Unsurprisingly, such efforts tend to be ineffective and waste limited resources.

Bloom does things differently.

Viable, sustainable solutions rely on the strengths of communities and their members. We are pioneering an inclusive, holistic approach to community and economic development. Bloom helps people recognise their individual worth, skills, and capacities so that they are empowered to positively transform their lives and those of their households and communities.

To do this, our services offer:  

·      Mentoring at individual, household, and community levels;

·      Facilitating development and implementation of action plans; and

·      Managing programs and relations with non-profit-, private-, and public- sector stakeholders.

Please read more about our services below.  

 
 
work page icons-03.png

WE MENTOR

Mentoring helps create a space for the mentee to think – to pause and recognise their self-worth, reclaim their dignity, and dream (after all, you can’t make a dream a reality if you aren’t free to dream in the first place!).

The mentoring process also helps identify challenges and figure out a way forward.  

We adapt three different, but complimentary, mentoring frameworks to the local context of Buffelsrivier.

  • Individual mentoring adapts LifeXchange’s methodology

  • Household self-assessment adapts Poverty Stoplight’s methodology

  • Resource mapping and community engagement adapts ABCD’s methodology

 
 
StrengthenSimplifyPartner-02.png

WE FACILITATE

Building on outcomes from the mentoring processes, Bloom facilitates translating dreams into concrete goals and action. This includes:

  • Helping individuals, households, and communities develop action plans (action plans cover a range of things, such as behavioural changes for healthier living, managing household finances, skills training, programme development, etc.)

  • Helping to organise community activities (such as relationship building activities, committees, youth activities, capacity building opportunities, etc.)

 
 
work page icons-01.png

WE MANAGE

Bloom provides management of programmes and stakeholder relations.

As programmes emerge, Bloom provides the initial programme management with the intention of community members taking over this role as capacity building and mentoring progresses.

Similarly, Bloom provides stakeholder management to help ensure actions are coordinated with the community and other stakeholders, and that resources receive proper stewardship. As with programme management, the intention to capacitate community members to take over this role.

 

Pilot Initiatives

Pilot initiatives currently under consideration include— among other things—organic farming, children’s programmes, asset surveys, and capacity building. We will share more about these and other opportunities as details are confirmed.