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Support the Friends and Neighbours project

<h2 class="sectHeading">About the project</h2><p> The focus of the project is on understanding the needs and desires of the low-income community and improving their relationship with the surrounding ecosystem. Engagement with the community has resulted in the development of the Friends and Neighbours initiative that contributes to urban sustainability by improving the surrounding environment, cultivating a sense of pride in the community, and alleviating poverty. </p><p>The Village Heights community is predominantly poor, unemployed and distanced from the uplifting benefits of the <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Family%20and%20home/See-all-city-facilities/Our-recreational-facilities/Nature%20reserves/False%20Bay%20Nature%20Reserve">False Bay Nature Reserve</a>. The settlement is also plagued by social ills that often spill over to the other side of the fence. Anti-social activities that occur include illegal access, illegal harvesting of resources, criminal behaviour, illegal dumping, and land invasion.</p><p>Responses from the community have influenced the priorities, structure and expected outcomes of the project. These include constructing a community nature and food garden; building a play area for children; minimising illegal dumping and littering; clearing illegally dumped waste; removing invasive alien vegetation; supporting environmental education initiatives; increasing economic opportunities through skills training; and the development of sustainable business models and green jobs<a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Local%20and%20communities/Events-and-your-City/Find-an-event-in-the-City/samedomanin-CityConnect">.</a></p><div class="notification with-heading dark-copy light-blue bg-light-grey"><div class="graphic with-border"> <i class="info fastfact"></i></div><div class="desc"><h4>Fast fact</h4><p>One of the successes of the project includes clearing alien vegetation along the edge of the community. Removing this ‘bush of evil’ transformed a site where criminal activity had taken place, into a useful space.</p></div></div><h2 class="sectHeading">Become a partner</h2><p> Become one of our partners and contribute to the needs of the low-income community in Village Heights. Our current partners include <a href="https://cteet.co.za/" target="_blank">Cape Town Environmental Education Trust<i class="icon link-external"></i></a> (CTEET), <a href="https://zandvleitrust.org.za/" target="_blank">Zandvlei Trust<i class="icon link-external"></i></a> and <a href="https://www.projects-abroad.org/" target="_blank">Projects Abroad<i class="icon link-external"></i></a>.</p><h2 class="sectHeading">Contact us</h2><p>If you have any further queries, need further information about the project or would like to become a partner, please contact our main representative below.<br></p><h4>Stephen Granger, Manager of Major Projects and Programmes, Environmental Management Department</h4><p> <em>Telephone: </em> <br> <em><a>021 487 2236</a></em></p><p> <em>Email: </em> <br> <a href="mailto:stephen.granger@capetown.gov.za"> <em>stephen.granger@capetown.gov.za</em></a></p>

Learn about the City’s programme, Friends and Neighbours: The Other Side of the Fence, or become a partner.