ApplyIT is committed to empowering our neighbouring communities to fully participate in the economy.   We do this through a series of targetted initiatives aimed at those who most need our support.

In 2011 we have contributed towards uplifting people who live in the poverty stricken areas west of Durban through the 1000 Hills Community Helpers.

​	​The people who live in the Valley of 1000 Hills suffer terribly from depression and stress - they live in abject poverty with little hope of a brighter future. There are no jobs for them, so no money and no food. They don’t have a chance of ever getting jobs, so the future is very bleak. To try and alleviate this situation, the 1000 Hills Community Helpers has set up a skills section with a craft room, where the people can sell whatever they make.
​	​In the craft room the ladies do sewing, beadwork, weaving, fabric painting, wire art, pottery, etc. People come out to the clinic to teach these ladies the various crafts. They make the most beautiful things – table clothes, bags, place mats, cushion covers, necklaces, ear rings, etc, which they sell and so manage to better themselves. Most of them are Gogos (grandmothers) looking after more than thirteen grandchildren!
​	​So we chose this year to donate some funds to assist with this skills section of the clinic, and specifically to purchase the materials required for the ladies from the community to continue making their beautiful crafts to sell - material, beads, fabric paints, paint brushes, wire, cotton, glue etc. As you can imagine it is a huge expense to keep the skills section stocked up.
​	​We hope that our support will in some small way assist in uplifting that community by giving an opportunity for people to better themselves, and bring some hope, joy and purpose to their lives.