EVERYONE WANTS A SAFE HOME

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EVERYONE WANTS A SAFE HOME

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EVERYONE WANTS A SAFE HOME » EVERYONE WANTS A SAFE HOME »

The Church Land Programme, our partner in South Africa, provide a ‘hand up, not a hand out’ to people living in informal settlements.

This means that rather than doing work for the communities, CLP focuses on enabling those they work with to learn how to do it for themselves. CLP provide the necessary support to help individuals or groups develop the skills they need to solve their own problems, create their own solutions, and achieve their desired outcomes with regard to housing and land rights.

International Justice Mission, another WDR partner, is a global organisation partnering with local justice systems to end violence against people living in poverty. IJM works to protect people in poverty from everyday violence, modern slavery and human trafficking.

Across Ireland, World Development & Relief supporters play their part too, through financial giving, learning about the issues and praying for our global partners.

When we work together, we can create a better world for everyone.

For successful development, local people must be listened to. Nomusa Sokhela of Church Land Programme, a WDR partner in South Africa, meets with a community.

For successful development, local people must be listened to. Nomusa Sokhela of Church Land Programme, a WDR partner in South Africa, meets with a community.

Philisiwe’s husband, Khonzuyise, lost his factory job when technology replaced him. They now live in Siyanda, an informal settlement. When it rains, their home is flooded.

Philisiwe’s husband, Khonzuyise, lost his factory job when technology replaced him. They now live in Siyanda, an informal settlement. When it rains, their home is flooded.

The authorities dobbed a red number on Dorothy’s shack door, the promise of being rehoused. That was in 1998.

The authorities dobbed a red number on Dorothy’s shack door, the promise of being rehoused. That was in 1998.

Solidarity

Solidarity

TJ is a spokesman for Abahlali baseMjondolo, a nationwide movement, and part of a global network, for land and housing rights. 24 activists have been murdered by those opposed to their demands.

TJ is a spokesman for Abahlali baseMjondolo, a nationwide movement, and part of a global network, for land and housing rights. 24 activists have been murdered by those opposed to their demands.

Carrying their young child on their back, women keep their children safe, bond with them, nurture them and feeding is convenient.

Carrying their young child on their back, women keep their children safe, bond with them, nurture them and feeding is convenient.

The South African government spent over $3 billion on infrastructure to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup and yet shack-dwellers claim that they saw little of the benefits.

The South African government spent over $3 billion on infrastructure to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup and yet shack-dwellers claim that they saw little of the benefits.

Roosboom lies NE of Pietermaritzburg. In 1975, the black community was forcibly removed by the white government. They lost their homes, schools, churches, livestock and community. They started their return in 1993.

Roosboom lies NE of Pietermaritzburg. In 1975, the black community was forcibly removed by the white government. They lost their homes, schools, churches, livestock and community. They started their return in 1993.

One of the destroyed churches at Roosboom. Maxwell Thabede says, “We cannot ignore the role churches play in bringing up a person”.

One of the destroyed churches at Roosboom. Maxwell Thabede says, “We cannot ignore the role churches play in bringing up a person”.

Reminiscing of previous times before the eviction from Roosboom and the destruction of their community infrastructure.

Reminiscing of previous times before the eviction from Roosboom and the destruction of their community infrastructure.

Christians of all denominations come together to tell their stories of displacement and return. Building can go up but community takes longer to rebuild.

Christians of all denominations come together to tell their stories of displacement and return. Building can go up but community takes longer to rebuild.

Maxwell Thabede remembers his Methodist church in Roosboom. Church Land Programme have helped his people obtain compensation and they will build again.

Maxwell Thabede remembers his Methodist church in Roosboom. Church Land Programme have helped his people obtain compensation and they will build again.

Esther and Cathrine, members of the free Zionist Church.

Esther and Cathrine, members of the free Zionist Church.

Life is tough for those living in material poverty. The older generation of woman pass on their stories to the younger so that, eventually, equality can be lived out in reality.

Life is tough for those living in material poverty. The older generation of woman pass on their stories to the younger so that, eventually, equality can be lived out in reality.

MEET NOMUSA

Programme Manager at Church Land Programme

Nomusa Sokhela has a particular focus on women’s rights and walks alongside individuals and groups as they learn to advocate for themselves. Creating space and opportunity for women to share their experiences and learn from one another is a key part of the CLP model.

Last year, Church Land Programme organised a gathering called ‘Women’s Dialogue on Land’. The women, of all ages and from different backgrounds, were asked, ‘How do women connect to land?’.

Their answers focussed on “Umhlaba", referring to their wish to build a safe home for their families. It also refers to the physical connection they feel to the land. In their communities, it is most often women who plant and harvest crops, care for livestock and fetch water to be boiled to make it safe to drink. Land is also significant in death as loved ones are brought home for burial and women play an important role in funeral preparations.

Yet, despite this, laws still do not protect a woman’s right to land. For example, if a husband dies, the wife has no legal rights to the family land. CLP support communities as they challenge this and seek to implement change so that a woman’s home is not at risk, should her circumstances change.

“Communities need to learn to empower themselves. It is new to them. It does not come in the click of your fingers. People lead because they are the ones who suffer and we will support them. Even in our absence, they continue. It has to be their own vision.”

— David Ntseng,
Director, Church Land Programme

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