Community Development
Our Community Development programs focus on housing and food security through the Onverwacht Housing Project and Community Garden, transforming unsafe living conditions into safe homes and sustainable livelihoods for families.
Onverwacht Housing Project
The Onverwacht Home Plan, launching December 2024, will provide ten safe houses for families currently living in unsafe shacks.
FAMILY1: AISIE HLABATHI
Occupants: four (4) people living in the house.
1.Faisie Hlabathi 32 yrs with her children and siblings
2. Allusandra 14 yeras,
3.Michele 26 yrs
4.Reginald 12 yrs
She is the head of the household, a single mother residing with her child and siblings in a oneroom
shack that is divided into two sections using boxes and plastic materials, which poses a
significant fire hazard. The structure leaks extensively during rainfall. None of the family members
are employed; they rely on government assistance through child grants for her child and siblings.
She assumed the role of family leader following the passing of their parents six years ago.
FAMILY 2 :CILIA MMAKO
Occupants:
Cylia Mmako 42 yrs
Tumi Mmako 17yrs
Reneilwe Mmako 7 yrs
Oratile Mmaki 3 yrs
Cylia Mmako serves as the head of her household, residing in a two-room shack with her three children.
Currently unemployed, she relies on government assistance for child support. The living conditions of the shack are poor; it has leaks, and the floor is not cemented, rendering it unsafe and unhealthy for raising children.
FAMILY 3: CATHERINE SETHO
Occupants:
Cartherine Setho 50 yrs
Khomo Setho 7 yrs
Catharine Setho, a 50-year-old mother of one, resides in a dilapidated shack with her grandchildren.
Both she and child are participants in our Dropping in Centre programme. Their living conditions are
concerning from a health perspective. The shack is in poor condition, with a room separated by plastic, which further exacerbates the risks associated with their environment. Currently unemployed, Catharine relies on child support grants, as the father of her children, a foreign national, has vanished.
FAMILY 4: DORAH MAHLANGU
Dorah Mahlangu 44 yrs
Kgothatso Mahlangu 17 yrs
Dorah Mahlangu, aged 44, resides in a shack room with her son. Currently unemployed, she faced
abandonment by her boyfriend upon discovering her status, who subsequently placed blame on her for their circumstances. This living situation is detrimental to both her and her child, as the room is partitioned by a box, offering no privacy, and it leaks during rainfall.
FAMILY 5: EMILY MAFUTHA
Occupants
Emily Mafutha 59 yrs
Tshiamo Mfutha 12 yrs
Siphesihle Mafytha 2 yrs
Emily Mafutha is a grandmother residing in a shack with her grandchildren. Their mother has passed
away, and their father, who is a foreigner, vanished following her death, leaving the children in the care of their grandmother. She relies on government child support grants for financial assistance. A significant portion of this funding is allocated for transportation to the clinic for both herself and the children. She frequently expresses her concerns regarding the cold during the winter months and the dampness of the floor in the summer due to leaks.
Onverwacht Community Garden
Date: July 25, 2025
Introduction
St. Joseph’s reached out to Home Plan for support in launching a food gardening initiative in the Onverwacht community. The project aims to combat poverty and unemployment that adversely affect the upbringing of children.
St. Joseph’s designated an initial land area of 2,500 square meters for this purpose.
Implementation
The implementation process included:
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Site leveling
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Constructing an access road
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Creating a water flow tunnel
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Installing toilets
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Providing water supply
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Establishing windbreaks
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Supplying manure, seeds, seedlings, and herbs
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Offering training
Purpose
This initiative seeks to meet a vital need. Many parents are unemployed or engaged in seasonal farm work for very low pay.
The project will:
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Guarantee the resuscitation of the Dropping in Centre “Food Scheme”
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Ensure children have access to nutritious food, crucial for those receiving medical care
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Assist families in need with food parcels
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Sell excess produce to the community to finance children’s needs
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Function as a training center for parents on starting and maintaining home gardens
Workshops guide households on continuous planting and harvesting, providing food security and opportunities for income generation.
Achievements
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JoJo Tank Installed – Supports irrigation, especially in dry winter months
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Spinach Harvest – Benefited volunteers and the creche
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Clean Environment – Former dumping ground transformed into a safe, productive space
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Job Creation – Six women employed daily (five hours each), including two elderly participants who receive stipends
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Infrastructure – Fence and JoJo tank stand completed within four weeks, securing the garden from animals
Success
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The project is in its second phase and already shows a positive community impact.
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The surrounding environment is cleaner, safer, and free from health hazards like flies and rats.
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Local residents are satisfied with the transformation.
Challenges
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Need to purchase water to refill the JoJo tank (request submitted to Chief and Ward Councilor).
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One JoJo tank is not sufficient; two are required.
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Lack of chemicals to control insects.
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Rainy season brings risks of waterlogging and soil erosion.