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<h2 class="sectHeading">Stand up for your community</h2><p>Every Cape Town resident can get involved in local government’s vision and decisions. There are many ways to give feedback and make sure that local government policies, by-laws and projects are relevant to your and your community’s needs. <br> <br> <strong>Some examples are:</strong> </p><ul><li>Join the <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Family%20and%20home/meet-the-city/city-council/junior-city-council"> Junior City Council</a></li><li>Attend <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Family%20and%20home/Meet-the-City/City-Council/Meeting-calendar">public community meetings</a> in <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Work%20and%20business/meet-the-city/city-council/find-your-councillor-ward-or-subcouncil">your area</a></li><li>Visit our <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/City-Connect/Have-your-say/Issues-open-for-public-comment?L1=Issues%20open%20for%20public%20comment"> Have Your Say portal</a> for more ways to express your ideas or concerns to us.</li><li>Empower yourself and learn more about <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Local%20and%20communities/Meet-the-city"> how the City works</a> and <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Work%20and%20business/Meet-the-city/City-council/Where-do-i-fit-in">where you can fit in</a>.</li></ul><h2 class="sectHeading">Start a community organisation</h2><p>If there’s a need or service in your community that isn’t being met, this could be your chance to start a <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/City-Connect/Register/Social-organisations/Register-your-civil-society-organisation">community-based organisation</a> and make a difference. Even small steps can make a big change.</p> <span> <div class="image-gallery-slider img-gal-1" id="img-gal-1" data-slide="1" data-slides="6" style="height:493.5px;"><div class="image-gallery-content" style="height:414px;"> <figure class="itemSlide slide-left slide-1"> <img class="responsive" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Inline%20Images/Moyo%20We%20Khaya.png" alt="" style="width:743px;display:none;" /> <figcaption class="image-slide-text" style="display:none;"> <p>Christina Kaba is the driving force behind Moya we Khaya, an award-winning community food garden project which helps to create jobs and ensure food security in Khayelitsha. </p> </figcaption> </figure> <figure class="itemSlide slide-left slide-2"> <img class="responsive" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Inline%20Images/Moyo%20We%20khaya%202.jpg" alt="" style="width:1067px;display:none;" /> <figcaption class="image-slide-text" style="display:none;"> <p>Christina Kaba in Moya we Khaya Community Food Garden.</p> </figcaption> </figure> <figure class="itemSlide slide-left slide-3"> <img class="responsive" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Inline%20Images/Hand%20of%20Honour.jpg" alt="" style="display:none;" /> <figcaption class="image-slide-text" style="display:none;"> <p> <a href="https://twitter.com/HandsofHonour" target="_blank">@HandsofHonour<i class="icon link-external"></i></a> was founded in Retreat in 2010, by Paul Talliard. It helps to re-integrate former addicts into society by teaching them valuable carpentry skills.</p> </figcaption> </figure><figure class="itemSlide slide-left slide-4"> <img class="responsive" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Inline%20Images/Hands%20of%20honour%20founder.jpg" alt="" style="display:none;" /> <figcaption class="image-slide-text" style="display:none;"> <p>Paul Talliard, founder of Hands of Honour.</p> </figcaption> </figure><figure class="itemSlide slide-left slide-5"> <img class="responsive" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Inline%20Images/Women%20for%20Change.jpg" alt="" style="display:none;" /> <figcaption class="image-slide-text" style="display:none;"> <p> Since its inception in Macassar in 2016, 800+ women have joined the Women for Change programme, partnering with local ward councilors to boost service delivery and safety within their communities.</p> </figcaption> </figure> <figure class="itemSlide slide-left slide-6"> <img class="responsive" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Inline%20Images/Women%20for%20Change%203.jpg" alt="" style="width:1046px;display:none;" /><figcaption class="image-slide-text" style="display:none;"> <p>Women for Change Programme</p></figcaption></figure></div><div class="image-gallery-control"><div class="image-gallery-caption"> </div> <div class="image-gallery-nav"><div class="nav-info">1 of 6</div><div class="slide-next"> <i class="icon arrow-white-next"></i> </div> <div class="slide-prev"> <i class="icon arrow-white-prev"></i></div></div></div></div></span> <h2 class="sectHeading">Volunteer in your community</h2><p>Volunteering is a way to give back to your community and helps you grow and learn.</p><p>The City of Cape Town needs volunteers to help make our city great! <br> <br>Here are some ideas to get you started:</p><p> <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Departments/Disaster%20Risk%20Management%20Centre">Disaster Risk Management</a> volunteers help out when there is a natural or man-made disaster (e.g. floods, droughts, storms, shack fires), but they also assist with first aid, education and awareness programmes, crowd management at big events, and more.</p><div class="notification with-heading white-copy yellow bg-darker-grey"><div class="graphic"> <i class="info citycard"></i></div><div class="desc"><h4>City Connect</h4><p><a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/City-Connect/Get-involved/Volunteer/Disaster-risk-management-centre">Volunteer with the Disaster Risk Management Centre</a></p></div></div> <p>Each year, volunteers help with community programmes and events hosted by the <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Departments/Sport%20and%20Recreation%20Department">Recreation and Parks Department. </a></p><div class="notification with-heading white-copy yellow bg-darker-grey"><div class="graphic"> <i class="info citycard"></i></div><div class="desc"><h4>City Connect</h4><p> <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/City-Connect/Get-involved/Volunteer/Sport-and-recreation-department">Volunteer with the Recreation and Parks Department</a><br></p></div></div><p>Volunteers in the Community Gardens Project improve previously neglected areas in parks and public open spaces by creating beautiful gardens. City Parks helps these volunteers with the design and preparation of the site as well as basic infrastructure and training. </p><div class="notification with-heading white-copy yellow bg-darker-grey"><div class="graphic"> <i class="info citycard"></i></div><div class="desc"><h4>City Connect</h4><p><a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/City-Connect/Get-involved/Donate/Support-the-urban-gardening-project">Donate or volunteer in the Community Urban Gardens Project</a><br></p></div></div><p> <a href="https://vws.org.za/" target="_blank">Volunteer Wildfire Services<i class="icon link-external"></i></a> is a volunteer-run organisation that helps the City’s Fire and Rescue Service and the Disaster Risk Management Team. You can also volunteer to be a reservist firefighter. </p><p>Volunteer in <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Local%20and%20communities/see-all-city-facilities/our-service-facilities/libraries">our libraries</a> volunteers work in the library, fundraising, help with library, host talks and book launches, developing programmes for children and youth, helping with holiday programmes, holding events like reading competitions and career exhibitions, and more. </p><div class="notification with-heading white-copy yellow bg-darker-grey"><div class="graphic"> <i class="info citycard"></i></div><div class="desc"><h4>City Connect</h4><p> <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/City-Connect/Get-involved/Donate/Support-City-libraries">Support or volunteer at your local library</a><br></p></div></div><h2 class="sectHeading">Help keep our streets safe</h2><p>We are honoured to work with communities to keep Cape Town safe. </p><p>There are many ways you can get involved, from <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/City-Connect/Report/Report-a-crime?L1=Report%20a%20crime"> reporting crime</a> to starting a <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Local%20and%20communities/Community-health-and-safety/community-policing/Neighbourhood-watch"> neighbourhood watch</a> to joining a <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/work%20and%20business/doing-business-with-the-city/partner-with-the-city-of-cape-town/special-ratings-areas">City Improvement District (CID) or Special Ratings Area</a>. </p><h2 class="sectHeading">Help conserve our natural heritage</h2><p>Nature provides us with food and jobs as well as places to work, play and lead healthy lives. Natural environments are also homes for many animals and plants. In protecting your community’s natural areas, whether big or small, you are helping our planet survive. </p><p> Some ways to care for your community’s natural spaces:</p><ul><li>Organise a clean up at your local park, beach or common</li><li> <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Local%20and%20communities/community-building-and-upliftment/keep-your-community-clean">Manage your rubbish properly</a> so that pollutants don’t end up in your nearest river or wetland </li><li>Volunteer at your <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Explore%20and%20enjoy/Nature-and-outdoors/Our-precious-biodiversity/City-nature-reserves"> nearest nature reserve</a> or join a ‘Friends of’ group.</li></ul><div class="notification with-heading white-copy yellow bg-darker-grey"><div class="graphic"> <i class="info citycard"></i></div><div class="desc"><h4>City Connect</h4><p><a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/City-Connect/Get-involved/Volunteer/friends-groups-and-community-organisations/Friends%27%20groups%20and%20community%20organisations">Join a 'Friends' group</a></p><p><a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/City-Connect/Get-involved/Volunteer/volunteer-at-a-city-nature-reserve-or-in-a-biodiversity-programme">Volunteer at a City nature reserve or in a Biodiversity Programme</a></p> </div></div><h2 class="sectHeading">Collaborate with us</h2><p>Partnerships and cooperation between the City, the private sector and our communities are vital in helping the City achieve its strategic objective of building a well-functioning and caring city. <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/City-Connect/get-involved">By getting involved</a> with City projects, you will be exposed to a range of services that can be used to meet the needs of your community.</p><div class="notification with-heading dark-copy pink bg-light-grey"><div class="graphic with-border"> <i class="info toptip"></i> </div><div class="desc"><h4>Top tip</h4><p> Read our <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/City%20strategies%2c%20plans%20and%20frameworks/SDS_SocialDevelopmentStrategy.pdf" target="_blank">Social Development Strategy</a> for more insight into how corporate social investment (CSI), funding and public-private-community cooperation are vital to the growth of stronger communities in our metro. </p></div></div>

Discover how you can get involved in your community and begin to uplift both yourself and others.