Inspiring Meaningful Collaboration

The Lesedi Solar Park Trust recently held its quarterly engagement at Kuilsville High School, bringing together partners and, for the first time, local community-based organisations supported by the Trust. 

The session opened with a warm welcome from Lesedi Solar Park Trustee and Kuilsville High School principal, Mr. Fritz Steenkamp, before moving into updates and discussions on key projects. Partners shared highlights of the past quarter, reflected on progress, and identified opportunities to strengthen collaboration. 

One of the most valuable outcomes of the day was the recognition of overlapping initiatives planned by different partners. By identifying these, partners agreed on ways to coordinate efforts, reduce duplication, and create greater impact by working together. The discussions also surfaced some of the challenges faced in the communities, including low levels of parental engagement in educational initiatives. 

During the dialogue, partners also recognized duplication in some of their planned initiatives. They took the opportunity to set up meetings with one another to combine efforts, realising that it is more effective to build on existing connections and plans and elevate those, rather than starting from scratch and duplicating work. 
 
These engagements serve as a platform for all partners to unite and strengthen their working relationships while collaborating for the greater good of the community. 

The Trust continues to play a vital role as more than just a funder, it serves as a convener, bringing partners into one room where honest dialogue, learning, and planning can take place. By creating this neutral space, the Trust helps organisations move beyond working in silos to building stronger networks of support. These Quarterly Engagements are not isolated events, but steppingstones towards long-term, sustainable partnerships that place collaboration at the heart of community development. 

As the convener the Trust used this engagement to better understand how it can continue to support partners, while also laying the groundwork for the upcoming Community Engagements and Roadshows. Partners contributed to shaping these next steps, ensuring that community voices and needs will guide the planning process. 

The Quarterly Engagement continues to serve as a space where collaboration, reflection, and problem-solving lead to stronger partnerships and more meaningful outcomes for the communities we serve.