The founder of the Tikondane Community Centre initially aimed to teach literacy to women and girls. However, the women expressed that employment was their most pressing need. In response, TIKO Lodge was established, creating 80 jobs primarily for women. Since not everyone could be salaried, TIKO adopted a model that provides small allowances while emphasising food security, training, and educational support, including a community school.
The NGO operates with a management committee that meets weekly, and the founder is training a local successor. Traditional beliefs in Katete pose challenges to progress, as many people attribute their circumstances to witchcraft rather than personal effort and limit their generosity to their immediate family. These deeply ingrained beliefs contribute to poverty and hinder development. In contrast, TIKO promotes a balanced diet to be grown at home and the possibility of selling their products, through its Survival Package.
As of 2023, approximately 150 households have embraced this package, overcoming initial hesitations about planting near their homes. The organisation has also established numerous youth groups to facilitate its implementation. Despite this progress, there remains a mistrust of business practices, with many preferring to give rather than sell. To help the youth break free from reliance on their families, it is essential to introduce them to technology that raises awareness and promotes better nutrition.
The younger generation aspires to education and employment, but they must learn to view agriculture as a viable business opportunity, at least as a starting point.
To achieve these objectives, TIKO requires modern technology, including a projector with internet access, a color printer, and a pickup truck to reach schools, hence youth, in remote villages. By empowering individuals through education and sustainable practices, the TIKO Survival Package aims to create lasting change for subsistence farmers and their families.
