Operating Principles
Target group

Each ‘mother’ needs to fulfill the Mothers for All requirement that she must be caring for at least two orphaned or vulnerable children.  An orphan is defined as a child whose biological mother or both parents have died.* A vulnerable child is one who is infected or affected by HIV and AIDS.**

*This definition of an orphan is used by WHO and Unicef and takes into account the predominant child-rearing practices in sub-Saharan Africa. As most primary caregivers are female the loss of a child's mother tends to have a much greater negative impact on a child than the loss of his or her father.
**A vulnerable child can be HIV-positive, or HIV-negative but living in a household in which the primary caregivers have AIDS.      
 
Training procedure and regulations
  1. A group of six mothers will be taught to make paper products by experienced trainers– initially this will be bead making from used magazines and cardboard boxes. Later, mothers will be taught to make papier-mâché bowls and hand-made paper from newsprint.
  2. Each mother, while in training, must be prepared to make a commitment for six weeks to practise these new skills before expecting any income. Quality products are the goal and therefore adequate practice in making the products is essential.
  3. The group must meet at least once a week to share ideas, give support and tips, and problem-solve. Mothers will also be taught additional life skills during these meetings.
  4. In the first training session, each mother will be given: a pair of scissors, a ruler, a pencil, glue,, a roll of fishing line, and some old magazine papers and cardboard boxes (mothers will be expected to source their own magazines and cardboard boxes once this supply is finished). The new mothers will be taught how to make the various types of beads and will be expected to practise and make beads for four weeks, thereby building a bank of good quality beads that they can then use for stage two. Varnishing will be done at the central meeting place once or twice a week.
  5. If the group meets twice a week, has worked hard and practised adequately to produce quality beads, the members can move on to stage two earlier.
  6. During stage two the trainers will show the mothers how to make the bead jewellery. Mothers will be taught the designs and colour coordination for the necklaces, bracelets, earrings and bookmarks.
  7. A second pack of materials will be supplied to each mother. This will consist of: an assortment of glass beads (10 scoops), 50 crimps, five pairs of earring fittings, 20 lengths of cord and jewellery pliers. If a mother drops out, she must return the jewellery pliers.
  8. Products can be made and sold freely by trainee mothers. Mothers for All will buy the quality products and package them ready for local and international sale. Products will be purchased at set prices.
  9. Once the second pack of materials has been finished, the trainee mothers will be responsible for buying their own materials – this includes glue, fishing line, glass beads, crimps, and earring fittings. Mothers For All will sell these essential supplies at cost price.
  10. Buying of products and selling of raw materials will be done either once a week or once a fortnight.
  11. Income for each mother will depend on individual output – the more quality products each mother makes, the greater her income. However, there will be a cap of P300 (about 30 UK pounds) income per week for each mother to ensure as many mothers as possible benefit. In the event of a big order the cap will be increased depending on the requirements of the order.
  12. Each mother must not be receiving a total income of more than P800 (80 UK pounds) from other sources when joining the group. This is to make sure that the mothers in greatest need are targeted.
  13. Once a mother has gained sufficient experience, she will be required to help train new mothers.

Environmental awareness
All our products are made from materials, such as old magazines, cardboard packaging, wrapping paper and newsprint, that would otherwise end up in rubbish dumps. In addition, we have taken particular care to make the finished products as environmentally friendly as possible.  Our packaging cards are made from recycled paper and we are experimenting with glue made from flour, salt and water, environmentally friendly varnish and biodegradable film bags.
 
As the income-generation groups grow and develop, Mothers for All intends introducing the following programmes:
  • HIV and AIDS awareness - living positively; safer choices; overcoming stigma
  • Environmental awareness - recycling; water and energy conservation; appreciation and preservation of our natural environment
  • Nutrition - healthy eating; food gardening and permaculture projects
  • Carbon off-set programme - tree planting; distribution of solar water heaters
  • Life skills and counselling - financial management; psychosocial support groups for the caregivers and children; bereavement counselling
  • Sports development and healthy lifestyle programmes
  • Monitoring and evaluation of the physical, behavioural and mental health of the orphans and vulnerable children under the mothers' care