Community Centre/ Library

and Computer Centre/ Craft

CentreNourish is a registered Non Profit Organization with the Department of Social Development; Registration number 090-810-NPO

VisionOur vision and focus for the community centre is 3 fold:

• To host a English Library as well as resource centre with computers for educational games, typing and

encyclopedias to assist children in their English skills and home-work. Because this is part of the community

centre we are encouraging children to get together to do their school work in the afternoon, perhaps while

mothers craft or work. This allows children a place of safety to spend time together in the afternoon in a safe

and constructive environment.

• The Craft centre will be unique in that it encourages and promotes crafting as a form of local

entrepreneurship through the use of recyclable materials. This will allow local craftsmen and women in

particular to see recycling; and the community as an opportunity to support themselves financially. It also particular to see recycling; and the community as an opportunity to support themselves financially. It also

develops the opportunity for sustainable tourism; as local lodges and travelers can get involved in stopping

by the craft centre to not only shop for recycled crafts; but also to see how the work is being done. A positive

space is to be created where the ladies/ men can spend time actually crafting together to assist with skills…

this is both interesting for the travelers and beneficial to the artisans. ( especially if there is a safe place

where children can be studying at the same time)

• As a community centre, it will be a safe, open and welcoming place for the community to use to interact both

with each other; and with the public at large to both promote their own learning; and to create skills and a

livelihood for themselves. This may also be used as the venue for educational talks, future lessons and

classes, and potentially a food security garden;

Vision in ImagesSafety - Education - Entrepreneurship - Solidarity

Library and LearningLibrary and LearningLibrary and LearningLibrary and Learning

Building Aims

• Our aim in building the Nourish Centre will be to use ‘green & recycled’ materials. This will not only allow us

to effectively keep costs down, but will also to create a sphere of thought whereby we can ‘lead by example’

showing members of the community innovative and inexpensive ways to not only use waste but also build

safely. This will hopefully ultimately lead the community to thinking more “out the box” in their approach to

waste utilization and their daily lives. Hence our goals in building are not simply to build quickly or cheaply,

but in a method that is an example in recycled waste use.

• We aim to implement this through building with the following:• We aim to implement this through building with the following:

– Used Tins

– Used Bottles

The walls will thus be created using a mixture of the above, as well as cement to create an innovative

and funky, but well insulated and safe community centre. Local members of the community will be

encouraged to assist us in collecting these tins and bottles from the area, and also to assist us in

building as it is a job that requires much unskilled labor. Sandbag and tyre retaining walls may also be

implemented or considered for their ease as well as for the fact that they are environmentally

conscious and easily accessible to the layperson in Acornhoek:

Blueprint

Building in Images

Budget & Closing

• At this stage we are still in the process of seeking funding to assist in the building costs of the Nourish Centre. We will be approaching local companies to assist in covering basic core costs, and approach the local community as well as the lodges to assist us in collecting the tins and bottles.

• We are also in the process of creating a Volunteer Program where we seek international volunteers to assist our building projects, financially and as un-skilled labor during the building process. This will include hands-on involvement with the community and an building process. This will include hands-on involvement with the community and an opportunity to leave a lasting difference behind

Look forward to being in touch as to potentially working together and being able to assist each other.

Many thanks, Sarah Bergs

Our fingerprints don’t fade from the lives we touch.