For several months, I have been following the developments within RLabs, an organisation set up on the Cape Flats, which is seeking to bring about positive change to communities in tension, through innovative means. There is a strong focus on social media and the power this has to get people to interact and engage with issues and each other.
One of these courses is called 'Legacy', designed to help young people who have left school, but are unsure of where they are going to go next in their lives, to develop visions and goals and dreams! And to believe that they can leave their mark on the world , and a legacy for the future. They have each been tasked with a project, to identify a problem they observe in their community, and to come up with innovative ways to solve the problem and make an impact. This idea will then be put in the Rlabs 'incubator', worked on, developed in consultation with others and hopefully put into action.
We were able to sit in on the beginning of a Legacy class when visiting Cape Town, in April, and have since got to know one young man, Nathaniel Wagner, very well. With another student, Robyn Smith, they have an exciting vision , developed from living in the Cape Flats, and being aware of the massive housing problems that exist. Across the city, there is overcrowding, poor quality housing, shacks, tin sheds, street dwellers and a lack of care of the environment generally. The huge contrasts between the beautiful tourist sites and the affluent areas, and places like Kewtown, Langa, Khayelitsha and Blikkiesdorp are only too obvious.
There is also a sense of feeling both local and national government is not doing enough, and that a 'people's movement' to bring about change is whats needed.
And so the idea ' Fixing Cape Town' has been born! They have presented the idea by means of a powerpoint slide show to their fellow legacy students, and we were also able to hear it on another occasion. The plan is to build up awareness of the issues, a desire within the communities themselves to want to see change, and not rely on the authorities to bring it about. For people to feel empowered and equally passionate about change and to be willing to contribute. They would like to see 'donation days' across the city, with many just contributing small amounts of money, even just a few rands, but if large numbers get involved, then there is potential for a great impact. Also, involving communities themselves in the restoration of homes, and neighbourhoods. As this grows, they are hoping businesses might take notice, perhaps offer sponsorship, materials etc, get buy-in from radio presenters, and eventually local politicians themselves may even see this as something they want to be involved in. This would be a grass roots movement, and would increase people's confidence and self -esteem along the way!
It sounds ambitious, given the real difficulties in some of these impoverished parts of the city, and yet I know these guys have the passion and heart and commitment to see this come into being! And even the remarkable progress of RLABS itself over the course of a year, is an inspiration that change can happen and that all of us can 'be the change we want to see'.
So for now, a Facebook page has been set up, and many are showing their interest and support by 'liking' it! over 300 in just 5 days!! So if you are reading this and havent 'liked' the page yet, please do, but do more than that, keep checking back to see the progress of the project! It is so exciting to see young people full of energy and enthusiasm , believing in themselves and in others to see transformation coming about!
I was reminded of a verse from Isaiah 61 (v 4) that is, I believe, God's word to these young people and this project:
'They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations'.
I pray that this promise comes to fulfillment in Cape Town and wish them all the best with what they hope to achieve!
