Chidi Maponya and Innocent Jiyane

About 

Innocent Jiyane, a program administrator for Makers Valley Partnership, oversees the SEF (Social Employment Fund), a government project aimed at employing members of the community, designed to tackle unemployment through the unique concept of social employment. The SEF participants work to maintain the community’s health, cleanliness, and environmental sustainability. Chidi Maponya, as an operations coordinator, focuses on ensuring the smooth functioning of day-to-day activities. In their roles, both Chidi and Innocent experience a range of challenges and deal with various people and situations, requiring strong managerial skills to address complaints and resolve issues. They find fulfillment in their work, particularly when they’re able to employ individuals within the community, providing opportunities for them to contribute to keeping their surroundings clean and improving their living conditions. In their engagement with Makers Valley Partnership (MVP), they implement programs aimed at empowering community members. Chidi oversees a free digital literacy program tailored for community members, where individuals sign up to learn basic computer skills. SEF aims to empower civil society organizations by enabling them to address issues in health, education, nutrition, gender-based violence, and food security. MVP is one of the organizations benefiting from SEF, providing temporary work opportunities that contribute to the well-being and sustainability of the community.

Issues and Ideas

Challenges within the Makers Valley community include a lack of utilities. For example, access to the internet is limited and not available to everyone. Free internet access is only available from 9 am to 4 pm, leaving individuals disconnected from the online world outside of those hours. Chidi expresses a desire for greater access to internet and communication services for all community members. Despite efforts by Makers Valley to address crime through community involvement, safety concerns persist. This fear sometimes leads people to hesitate carrying necessary devices, like phones, which they rely on but fear could make them targets for theft. As a relatively small organization, they face challenges in providing access to items like computers and cell phones to the community for free. What measures can be taken to ensure better access to the internet and computers in Makers Valley?

Find out more from Chidi Maponya and Innocent Jiyane in their video interview, available here.