Funding for community development projects invariably falls beyond the resources of the people concerned. The unique partnership in South Africa between the investors in Golden Arrow Bus Services, and the trustees of the autonomous Golden Arrow Foundation provides a model for ensuring continuous funding for community development. The foundation trustees administer the proceeds of a 50% shareholding on behalf of the constituencies they represent. The better the company's business performance, the bigger the dividend the foundation earns. Unsophisticated communities understand that by owning part of the company they have a direct interest in its success. Surpluses generated from tickets bought by people from the communities benefitting from the foundation's help come from the communities themselves. The communities have helped themselves and have not relied upon handouts. This provides communities with an added incentive to make use of the company's bus services. (A) The French title of this paper is: "Propriété collective d'une société de bus : création de fonds de développement".
Abstract