Eight students from the National School of Architecture of Montpellier, France (ENSAM) have recently been in Cape Town, working with local communities in Khayelitsha in building futures through the Iziko Project.
The Iziko Project was created to help local Khayelitsha resident Nolitha N’Dalasi expand her crèche and build accommodation that supports her work. Somerset Timbers responded to the call for local support by making all the wood and metal sheeting for the roof of the building available at reduced prices.
Described as an architecture and humanities endeavour, this project sees the principles of sharing skills and providing mutual aid brought to life. Follow their progress on Instagram
Here is the story of Nolitha and the Iziko Project.
Nolitha N’Dalasi is one of the inhabitants of Khayelitsha Township. As a chief in her community, her role is to care for and protect her people. She does this by managing a nursery school for 90 children, as well as running a kitchen and community garden that feeds 100 people three times a week.
Nolitha also helps the children through school support and sexual education courses, and she works with the women in the community who are victims of domestic violence. Nolitha also facilitates sewing courses that help those with HIV reintegrate into the workforce.
As part of a 2021 work experience program run by the National School of Architecture of Montpellier (ENSAM), students spent time with Nolitha learning about the community. From November 2021 to January 2022, they cooked for the soup kitchen tended the community gardens and helped the teachers in the crèche.
During this time, they discussed Nolitha’s goals for the future. These included expanding the existing crèche to accommodate all the children enrolled, and building accommodation for those that help monitor the community. She also hoped to build a new community kitchen to replace the broken shack she was currently using.
It was off the back of these discussions that the Iziki Project was borne. And in January 2022 the students facilitated meetings between Nolitha and GI Construction Group to finalise building plans, obtain approvals and begin construction.
At the same time, Iziko was launched in France, with fundraising efforts aimed at supporting this and future initiatives. French companies, private individuals, students and other stakeholders all put their efforts behind this project. In South Africa, local companies either donated materials or offered discounts, and many individuals contributed to the project costs.
The construction of these facilities is near completion, but Nolitha’s dreams are far from over. In the next few years, she is planning to expand the crèche, and build a shelter for battered women. She hopes to create a real sewing room for women in vocational rehabilitation and house the staff who maintain the community garden. Community spaces are key to positive living and she wants to build a seating area for the soup kitchen and a playground for the children.
Comalytics