Diploma in Social Empowerment Programme (DSE)

African Enterprise’s DSE Programme is one of its ‘Deed’ projects, aimed at transforming lives through the practical application of Gospel principles and was initiated in 1991. At present the programme is able to train approximately 60 students per year

South Africa has large numbers of people who live in underdeveloped areas, with little or no educational or employment opportunities, and who suffer the effects of extreme poverty. The DSE programme aims to empower such folk with tools that will assist them to discover their God-given potential as human beings and to lift themselves out of their deprived circumstances, while also participating in developing the communities they live in.

The DSE programme is a part-time course consisting of 12 modules spread over a period of 3 years during which students are usually able to remain in their communities and places of work while completing the course. Each of the 4 annual modules comprises a week during which students are in residence at the AE centre, where they participate in lectures and discussion groups. At the end of each week, students receive assignments which are then completed when they return to their communities. Students are encouraged to initiate or participate in development projects while studying on the programme.

Some of the modules offered include:

            Introduction to Community development

            Conflict Management

            Theory of Development

            Starting and Running a small business

            Project Management

            Urban Social Problems

            Project Evaluation

            Community Research and Surveying

            Skills Development.

Students hail from all areas of South Africa, particularly the less developed rural areas, and since the start of the training programme, 189 have graduated, each with a Diploma in Social Empowerment and Development. Over 300 development projects have resulted from this programme, of which about 70% are ongoing. A large number of graduates have also been employed by the Department of Social Development.

Funding remains the greatest challenge to the DSE Programme, which, with increased funding has the potential to reach many more students per year.