The story of Sinebhongo Village

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The story ofSinebhongo Village

Volunteer Rotarians, members of 5 Rotary Clubs in East London, South

Africa, with the support of many Rotarians in various parts of the

world, developed Sinebhongo Village

They have now set their next goal

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Introduction Today we are going to tell you about the low

cost housing project that grew into Sinebhongo Village - its benefits have spread into the wider community

My name is Tony Wheals. I am a member of the Rotary Club of East London, South Africa, and the volunteer leader of the project

Where there was empty land, there is now a community of 100 families with facilities serving a larger area

Rotary volunteers, teamwork and networking with contacts are the essential elements that enabled this project to succeed

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Before & After

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Topics of Discussion

This presentation covers the following:-

The origin of the project Organisation Supporters Results achieved in 5 years Coming of age Plans for the future

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The origins of Sinebhongo Village

In April 1998 I took a wrong turn and drove past kilometers of squatter shacks

Soon afterwards I read about RIP Glen Kinross’ Low Cost Housing initiative

Here was a unique opportunity for Rotary to make a difference and benefit the poor

I dreamed of a project to build 100 Low Cost Shelters I spoke to some Rotarians - this led to contacts Five Rotary Clubs in the area agreed to help –

Arcadia, Beacon Bay, East London, Gately & Gonubie

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The Beneficiaries

The municipal housing waiting list was the source of the target beneficiaries

Single mothers with dependent children under 18 could apply

Applicants were interviewed to assess suitability Successful applicants were trained to understand

the responsibilities of owning their own homes Completed houses were transferred into their

names, but they may not sell them for 5 years

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Organisation We formed a non-profit company, and appointed directors

from volunteers from the five Rotary Clubs Our Rotary connections gave us strengths in civil

engineering, housing, administration, property law, community development, accounting, etc

We also forged links with our municipality and the provincial government housing department

Through Rotary connections, we built contacts with overseas clubs, districts, zones

Via telephone, fax, and later especially by email, we maintained a regular exchange of information

We marketed the project to promote donations to specific sub-projects by supporters around the world

We held monthly project team meetings

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Supporters Rotary Clubs and supporters in North America,

England, Australia and South Africa gathered funds. The East Cape Provincial Government gave housing subsidies

Together, these funded the village infrastructure, houses, washing lines, trees, playground, fencing, hall furniture, training & capacity building of the beneficiaries, etc

Industrial Development Corporation sponsored funds for an edu-care centre building that would also serve as a hall or resource centre

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Results achieved in 5 years We raised R3.5million (US$500 000) and established:-

the village infrastructure (roads, water supply, sewers, electricity, street lights)

100 houses, washing line and tree for each home A resource centre building and furniture A thriving EduCare Centre of 40 children aged 3-7 a playground for the children

100 former squatter families now own their own homes Two churches hold services in the resource centre

An excellent example of Rotarian volunteers around the world uniting to uplift the poor & build a healthy, self-

sustaining community

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Sinebhongo Village(Sinebhongo means “to be proud”)

This was bushy land before we started

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Proud women celebrate their new homes

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This is the Resource Centre

Face-brick construction Iron roof 100 sq m floor area Rentals from churches etc

help make it self-sustaining

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Playground next to the Hall

There are 4 different activity stands

The Mayor addresses guests at the hand-over

of the Hall

Community Hall(Resource Centre)

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Permaculture m2 Gardening

Children doing puzzles

EduCare Centre Scene

9th January

2003

5th February

2003

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Coming of age

Volunteers from Rotary Clubs have worked hard for five years to raise the quality of life and housing for 100 families

The community is now coming of age, and beginning to learn that hard work and self-discipline are necessary to manage the assets in a self-sustaining manner

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Plans for the Future It is essential that community resources be

managed in a consistent and self-sustaining manner from year to year.

The community must resolve how they will ensure this

The volunteers will work with positive forces in the village to foster the vision of self-sustaining assets, and to build a library for the benefit of the wider community. The building could perhaps also serve as a base for the mobile clinic that serves the area

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This is the land

Erf no 53560, area 9224 m2

Existing resource centre/hall with functioning, fully equipped EduCare Centre & playground

The Library will be built near the hall

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Library vision A Library will help educate and

entertain many who lack access to such facilities

We are preparing the building plans Estimated cost of Library building is

R220 000 – funding has already been promised

Over 700 books have already been selected from donations

Suitable volunteers from the community will be trained by the city library staff, to manage the books

The library is a Rotary Centennial 2005 project

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THE TIME HAS COME

Hard work and dedication is necessary to achieve significant things in life

For FIVE YEARS the Rotarian volunteers have worked to give 100 families their own homes on their own land, in a good environment, with access to an EduCare Centre, playground and hall

Now they are working to provide a self-sustaining Library that will bring knowledge and pleasure to thousands of people

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How YOU can helpSinebhongo Village

Endorse this project by Endorse this project by Rotarian volunteers to Rotarian volunteers to benefit many benefit many disadvantaged people disadvantaged people over a wide areaover a wide area

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THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO SHARE THIS WITH YOU

Tony Wheals, project leader

(member of the Rotary Club of East London, South Africa)