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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)
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