The Diocese is committed to the social and economic upliftment and empowerment of the disadvantaged and is responsible for promoting a number of different programmes and projects in the Eastern Cape. The main objectives of the DSR are to encourage and affirm the development of social responsibility work in all parishes; to undertake specialised projects approved by the Diocesan Council, and to encourage the development of supporting links and partnerships with other Churches and NGOs doing similar work. The DSR work is administered from Kei Road, and is mainly funded by donations from overseas. Programmes include:
The staff of two are concerned with issues related to the mal-administration of pensions and disability grants, and with labour relations issues in disadvantaged communities. Responsibilities include being alongside those whose needs are being ignored by officials or employers, and taking up specific concerns with government ministers.
The diocese owns an estimated 800 hectares of land in disadvantaged communities which could be used for producing food. The Land Programme involves a Land Audit, in which all diocesan properties are being surveyed, and those with larger areas of land are being evaluated for food security projects. Land Reform is the second part of the programme in which projects on church land are being undertaken in partnership with NGO’s or government departments to grow vegetables and other crops. Diocesan land includes two former mission farms, the ownership of which is currently being transferred to local people.
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