The Book Nook - Our latest job creation initiative

Hoping we can create many more jobs with the Book Nook.
Designed especially for overcrowded Early Learning Centres in needy townships,the Book Nook takes up very little space but literally opens up to reveal a world of experiences and information through the books stored within it's confines.The face of the Book Nook is a chalkboard and can be used as such, whilst other children are nestling inside,glued to their books or learning to spell and count whilst playing with the Edu -Toys installed within.

Help us to give needy children ,caught up in crowded childrens centres,a delightful first time reading experience in spite of their noisy and overcrowded surroundings.This will foster a love for eading at an early age,a gateway to a better education for all of them.We want to buy enough material to create 100 Book Nook's that will be distributed to needy Township creches and childrens homes.

Chalkboard + Mini-Library+ Secret Fold-Out Benches+ Edu-Toys+ Mobile
For $350 (R3500) we will manufacture and deliver a Book Nook to a needy childrens centre or school in Cape Town,South Africa of your choice.We are convinced,they will be eternally grateful to you.Calling Corporation,individuals and donors:why not finance a Book Nook station for a school or Early Learning Centre in need.With your permission,your name or will be embellished inside the Book Nook.
The Social impact is two fold:

• A child will enjoy a better first reading experience:Priceless
• More jobs will be created at local Social Enterprise :Hands of Honour

Call 0721389150 or email handsofhonour@gmail.com for more info

So I'm off to Johannessburg to be part of the Spark*SA Changemaker accelerator.What a great time we had.I was chosen as the Spark* SA Changemaker of the Year 2014 for my work as the Director of Hands of Honour
Is it possible to help 1 million people out of extreme poverty by finding and enabling 1000 local Changemakers in some of the world’s poorest countries, in the next decade?
Well, Spark* is a non-profit aiming to do just that.
Connect Africa was invited by Spark* South Africa to a lunch in April 2014 to assist in this process, by hearing the pitches of 14 Changemakers and then casting a vote for the Spark* South Africa Changemaker of the Year 2014

These fourteen Social Entrepreneurs had just been through an intensive 5 day programme equipping them with entrepreneurial skills, and the mindset to make their impact as big as possible. And all fourteen of them not only showed the passion for their respective ventures, but also the enthusiasm to succeed in order to have a much needed impact in their communities.
The person who won the title of “Spark* South Africa Changemaker of the Year 2014” went to Paul Talliard of Hands of Honour. The audience believed Paul would make the biggest impact with his venture which takes men out of soup kitchens to upcycle and sell distressed or obsolete stock from local companies. The profits are used as salaries and to improve the impoverished yet most productive areas of the community, like painting schools or planting food gardens. 

It was inspiring to hear the social entrepreneurs pitch their ideas, and know that they are more equipped from their attendance in the Spark* programme to impact in their communities positively.

TV advert.A day at Hands of Honour - Kindly sponsored by FNB #WDC368

This video clip serves as an advertisement on national television and documents the daily activities at Hands of Honour.From humble beginnings in a soup kitchen to a fully fledged Social Enterprise,creating jobs and incomes through our up-cycling ventures.Please spread the word at your workplace or company.
We will collect your junk,up-cycle it ,create jobs and improve our community.See how we changed our community using obsolete stock and other junk donated by our Corporate partners.
     CALLING ALL BIG BUSINESS/CORPORATIONS BECOME OUR PARTNER TODAY

                                          #WDC368 Hands of Honour ''up-cycling lives and waste ''

                            STRIKING WHILE THE IRON IS HOT
Need assistance so I can leverage maximum benefit for Hands of Honour out of WDC nomination.
Any  marketer/student/ of brand specialist willing to share their expertise.
Give us a shout at at Hands of Honour

Oh Horrors!!! -Chosen for World Design Capital Cape Town 2014 -

    HANDS OF HONOUR INCLUDED WORLD DESIGN CAPITAL CAPE TOWN 2014                               RECOGNITION AGAIN BUT NO CIGAR .......AGAIN

In the four years of our existence we have been privileged to be considered for some awards and have also received the odd recognition from National Govt.Departments.We are particularly proud of a signed and very official looking South African Police Statement acknowledging the work we do has impacted the lives of so many young and adult men caught up in the vicious cycle of intermittent homelessness,drugs and gang activities,that crime has actually been reduced in our community.This is reflected in the official crime statistics for our community.

This recognition , at the time ,seemed to be an indication that progress was being made. 

Other accolades and awards  included:

1. *Winner - Unlimited SA Award 2013
2. *Nominee - Rockefeller Foundation Next Century award 2013
3. *Finalist - Deutsche Bank Urban Age Award Cape Town 2012
4. *Finalist -  Social Enterprise Bus. Plan -Dept.Econ. Dev. 2011

While it was nice to receive the recognition ,assistance and/or advice from Government was non-existent,apart from a photo opportunity with the Premier Helen Zille at Deutsche Bank  UA Award.To say Government officials lack vision would be putting it mildly.I cite two instances ,with elected Government representatives that leave a bitter taste in the mouth.

1. In 2011 Hands of Honour were averaging fifty men per weekly meeting.The meetings were made up of young and adult men who were determined to forsake their destructive lifestyles and ,if a given a fair chance,fulfill their roles as breadwinners and role-models  in their communities.When  I  engaged the then Provincial Minister of Safety, at a public meeting about any advice/support assistance he had for me and our organization ,his reply was ''i don't have painting jobs for men ''.No wonder our communities on the Cape Flats perish,our leaders have no vision.Thank God the folks at UnLtd SA ,all the way from the UK,introduced me to Social Enterprises.Hands of Honour now has an Up-cycling Centre which sustains us economically.
2. In 2012 Hands of Honour began a successful partnership with corporations,notably The Foschini Group.This partnership entailed receiving all The Foschini Group's obsolete stock and recyclables.Hands of Honour then employs the “unemployable” in South Africa—those who have experienced homelessness, crime and/or substance abuse—to up-cycle obsolete stock and recyclable items and in the process  earn a living.This partnership is currently flourishing with jobs being created and negative spaces being transformed into productive spaces as part of our community development program.          Tons of obsolete stock were coming our way,resulting in us needing a piece of land to house our Hands of Honour Up-cycling Centre.I approached the local representative of the City of Cape Town with regards to leasing a piece of land and was told to submit a proposal.I managed to  involve some experts in the drawing up of the proposal and duly submitted same to the local City of Cape Town representatives.                                      FOUR MONTHS LATER WHEN I VISITED THE OFFICIAL I FOUND OUT SHE DID NOT EVEN BOTHER TO OPEN THE EMAIL THAT CONTAINED OUR PROPOSAL

This lack of progress had had a detrimental effect on the moral of the men.with a few even leaving to once again delve in ant-social activities .

Once again - Recognition -World Design Capital Cape Town -How is this going to help us

I received this mail today,below..                            

We are pleased to inform you that Hands of Honour is to be recognized in the official programme of World Design Capital Cape Town 2014 (WDC 2014). Exceptional projects that demonstrate scale, impact and/or a contribution to the WDC 2014 vision have been selected to form part of the programme. Congratulations,this is a great achievement.

Calling all Corporations or any individual  who want to be seen as a force for the greater good. Help us let the City of Cape Town see the light and give us just a small,teeny-weeney piece of land for our Up-cycling Centre

I can be contacted at at handsofhonour@gmail.com - telefaz -0217030360 mobile 0721389150 

So we make it to the FNB- Ideas that Help competition.Hands of Honour need votes,and plenty of them.
Our entry came in late so we need all the votes we can get.
If you really feel you want to help us establish a much needed Up-cycling Centre in Cape Town.Please vote and share here Hands of Honour Up-cycling Centre

Need your vote big time.-THANKS

Benefits for Corporates who partner with Hands of Honour Up-cycling Centre

One of the main benefits for  Corporations who partner with Hands of Honour ,''donating '' their waste/obsolete stock rather than sending to landfill,is that they are seen as a force for the greatergood .

The Foschini Group donates their obsolete stock
The Big Issue Magazine

Those that we partner with ,are seen as being actively engaged in our sustainability efforts .So, we take pride in being involved with a Corporate that is focused on the triple bottom-line of people, planet, profit.
Our partnership with the Foschini group has resulted in the creation of new jobs and the improvement of the urban environment of  the poor and crime ridden area we operate in.This ,as well as the diverting of a large volumes of  waste/obsolete stock from landfill to the Hands of Honour Up-cycling Center,speaks volumes in itself  and shows what can be achieved if both donor and awarded understand their respective roles in raising the standard of living of the less fortunate.
Everyone in my community now knows of The Foschini Group's efforts to improve their lives and also realize the return they get from investing in TFG ,by simply buying from them.
It is as simple as that.Every time they buy an item from TFG ,they know there is a chance their community and surrounds will benefit directly from the transaction
We are encouraging all Corporations in Cape Town help us ''rehabilitate communities and waste through engagement of the socially marginalized.