Regenerative Community Action Network
RegenCAN
FD+ Compact
The RegenCAN FD+ Compact is a Rescue SA Exchange initiative whose primary objective is to provide community resilience orientated work for impoverished individuals in exchange for food, utilities, and goods & services that have been donated by donors. The FOOD plus token (FD+) is used exclusively by the RegenCAN FD+ Compact.
We have chosen the term ‘impoverished job-seeker’ to define the target market of the FD+ Compact. Firstly, an ‘impoverished job-seeker’ is a person that is willing to work in exchange for a minimum wage. Secondly, an ‘impoverished job-seeker’ in the context of the RegenCAN FD+ Compact is any indigent person who is willing to accept FD+ tokens in exchange for their labour.
The willingness to work for FD+ tokens is just the beginning. The path out of impoverishment is not an easy one. Understandably, temporary fixes are often more popular with indigents than long-term solutions. Why? The life of an indigent (aka: poor, needy, impoverished, poverty-stricken, penniless) person is more complex and difficult than you could ever believe.
Unfortunately, a temporary fix may offer an indigent person a hunger satiating meal but it does not teach them to fish — or grow their own food! This is the core problem that most poverty alleviating initiatives face. Dealing with immediate needs with temporary fixes drains funds so fast that the long-term goals are soon forgotten. Alternatively, we believe that dependency is a habit worth breaking!
With the FD+ Compact and the micro BLITZ Time Exchange, workers have the ability to transform a portion of their labour into capital by saving earnings and investing the capital in assets, a micro business, etc. which then generate more income which fuels synergistic increases in expertise, assets and income from investments.
This is a virtuous circle of empowering actions and outcomes that help an indigent person to build capacity and capital every day. Syntropy trumps entropy. The vicious cycle of the poverty trap becomes the virtuous cycle of upliftment. This is no utopian illusion. It really is possible. However, a lot of really hard work and due diligence is involved.
FAQ -- Overview
The RegenCAN FD+ Compact is a key division of the RegenCAN Initiative. In the questions and answers section below we explain how the RegenCAN FD+ Compact functions within the RegenCAN System and the Rescue SA Exchange.
What are FD+ tokens used for?
FD+ tokens are used to pay workers working on projects that are building community resilience and on projects that are restoring ecosystems regeneratively. This work includes working on projects that are:
- installing Solar Systems on public buildings
- developing Community Food Gardens
- building Rain Garden LID Systems
- etc. etc. etc.
How do workers redeem FD+ tokens?
FD+ tokens can be redeemed at any local RegenCAN FD+ Charity Shop, RegenCAN FD+ Market, Independent FD+ Fundraiser, Community Food Gardens, RegenCAN Market Gardens, or at participating NPO Charity Shops.
Where do FD+ tokens come from?
FD+ tokens are ‘activated’ when a local RegenCAN Chapter receives donations and they cycle back to the local RegenCAN Chapter when FD+ tokens are used to purchase any products. FD+ tokens issued are equal to the ZAR in the bank account plus up to a maximum of 50% of the value of all in-kind donations.
An in-kind donation is a non-monetary contribution. Goods or services offered free or at less than the usual charge result in an in-kind donation.
How are FD+ tokens allocated to projects?
On approval, FD+ tokens are issued to a project by a local RegenCAN Chapter via a local RegenCAN Exchange. Very strict criteria and integrity audits are applied to projects.
How do workers find FD+ Compact projects?
Firstly, FD+ Compact projects are always local. Finding them is mostly word of mouth. Secondly, FD+ Compact projects will soon be listed in the ads 4 a cause Directory.
NOTE: Very few projects are active in the start-up phase!
How do FD+ tokens help the RegenCAN MGS?
FD+ tokens help members of the RO*Food Market Garden System (MGS) to sell their produce locally. FD+ Compact workers pay RegenCAN Market Gardens for the vegetables they purchase using FD+ tokens as payment. Notably, RegenCAN Market Gardens can exchange the FD+ tokens for Rands. How? Monetary donations to the RegenCAN System are used primarily to pay RegenCAN Market Gardens in ZAR in exchange for FD+ tokens.
How does one join the FD+ Compact?
All local RegenCAN Chapters have designated outreach volunteers that help indigent persons to join.
The Work We Facilitate
RegenCAN FD+ Compact members work on a diverse range of projects that focus on people and the planet. Please note that the RegenCAN System does not have any projects of its own — all projects are ‘owned’ and managed by individuals, CBOs, NPOs and municipalities. Local RegenCAN Chapters manage the donor system and allocate FD+ tokens to approved projects.
Rescue Earth Initiatives
Although FD+ Compact members do work on projects of the over 20 initiatives of the Rescue Earth System, most of the FD+ Compact work is focused on urban and peri-urban projects.
Some examples include:
- building aesthetically pleasing Rain Garden LID Systems to infiltrate storm water [Ξ]
- developing Community Food Gardens to feed people [Ξ]
- installing Leaky Check Dam Systems to slow down storm water [Ξ]
- beautifying Public Places as functional landscapes [Ξ]
- building accessible Walking & Cycling Paths [Ξ]
- and many more …
For more information please submit a request via the form on the contact us page.
Resilience & Sustainability
The 20+ initiatives of the Rescue Earth System are all designed to increase community resilience and improve long-term sustainability. Local RegenCAN Chapters intentionally allocate FD+ tokens to projects that have the most impact on the well being of impoverished communities.
Capacity Building Outcomes
The skills learnt by FD+ Compact workers working of regenerative restoration projects are key to their sustainable upliftment. Examples include: how to build infrastructure with a range of natural materials, how to grow nutritious food, how to collaborate with people …
Environmental Outcomes
The environmental outcomes of the work done by FD+ Compact workers is significant. The regenerative restoration of urban and peri-urban ecosystems has a profound impact on the integrity of local environments.
Municipal Projects
Most municipalities in South Africa are in a state of collapse. The disproportionate impact that poor service delivery has on the poorest of the poor is something that the RegenCAN System would like to address. The municipal projects that are allocated the most FD+ are thus those that fix both environmental and societal issues at the same time.
Some examples include:
- earthworks that alleviate flooding and also filter litter and silt out of storm water
- developing Community Food Gardens to train people how to grow high quality food in very small spaces
- building composting infrastructure to safely turn mountains of rotting fly infested organic waste into high quality compost
- and many more …
For more information please submit a request via the form on the contact us page.
Resilience & Sustainability
The most impoverished communities suffer more from environmental degradation than more well off communities. Most of the FD+ tokens are allocated to projects that increase community resilience and the long term sustainability of society.
Capacity Building Outcomes
Community building is capacity building in so many ways. Local projects that affect the lives local indigents are very empowering. They are able to instill a sense of self-worth and accomplishment for those that have participated. Which in turn changes outlook and ….
Environmental Outcomes
The environmental problems that plague impoverished communities are in many ways a core societal issue that urgently needs solutions. The impact of the RegenCAN FD+ Compact will hopefully go a long way to resolving these issues.
NGO Projects
There are many NGOs that are doing phenomenal work in addressing societal issues such as: food security, education, health, etc. Local RegenCAN Chapters allocate FD+ tokens to the most effective NGOs.
Some examples include:
- Building and repairing schools and education facilities, etc.
- developing and maintaining Community Food Gardens to feed the needy …
- Building and repairing local health clinics, etc.
- and many more …
For more information please submit a request via the form on the contact us page.
Resilience & Sustainability
Many NGO projects are unfortunately too focused on instant solutions to be truely sustainable. The RegenCAN System helps these NGOs include resilience building principles into their projects which also significantly increases long-term sustainability.
Capacity Building Outcomes
Education needs to be paired with practical experience to be most effective. NGOs provide the perfect environment for nurturing future leaders that are both effective and empathetic!
Environmental Outcomes
Environmental consciousness is often severely lacking in impoverished communities. The attitude of ‘too poor to care’ needs to change! Local RegenCAN Chapters thus only allocate FD+ tokens to NGOs that include the ethos of environmental stewardship into their projects.
Our Donors
FD+ Compact donors range from ordinary citizens to companies, international agencies and government.
Private Donors
Most of the donations from private citizens are money, surplus vegetables from home gardens and used goods. Private Donors are often also volunteers offering their time and expertise free of charge. The entire RegenCAN System is managed by volunteers!
Business Donors
Businesses have the ability to help in many ways. This ranges from monetary donations to goods and services. A donation may also be an indirect or in-kind donation. For example: a group of farmers donate surplus produce which is transported free of charge by a trucking company. Facilitating the day to day operations is a key area that businesses can help the RegenCAN System.
NGO / NPO Donors
Some NGOs have a substantial donor base. They mostly assist projects with grants for building materials, equipment, etc.
International Donors
In the future we hope to attract the attention of International Donors!
Municipalities
Municipalities assist local RegenCAN projects with staff, equipment, grants, etc.
Government Agencies
Government agencies mostly provide funding for larger projects.
