BLIKKIESDORP, DELFT
The community of Blikkiesdorp located in Delft is one of the most impoverished sections of the area. It was the initial temporary residential area (TRA) in the community of Delft.
When you travel down Symphony Way, you sense a feeling of pride in the current developments and the dignity it brings to the underprivileged Community, it is unfortunate that this feeling disintegrates at the entrance of Blikkiesdorp. Blikkiesdorp is so unlike its development counterparts, the squalor and ragged nature of the settlement is evident. It is a fully shacked TRA environment, with the elementary pole electrical connections suspended above the shacks. Equally concerning is the lack of greenery situated in the confines and the surrounding area, coupled with the loose sand which is the permanent fixture of the area. However, as you enter the community, you are enlightened to see a community garden and a community library. As sandy and sparse as the surrounds are, pride and hope for the future gleam brightly.
About Mandela Day 2013
Officially launched on Mandela Day 2012, The Blikkiesdorp Community Upliftment Project has been a legacy of the Human Settlements Department and the City of Cape Town. The Mayoral Committee member for Human Settlements, Councillor Ernest Sonnenberg joined approximately 100 members of staff and hundreds of volunteers at the event, which was organised to mark 67 minutes of community service in support of International Mandela Day. The project was spearheaded by Andrew Gasnolar, Chairperson of the Boundless Heart Foundation and the City’s Human Settlements Department assisted with the coordination of this event. A container library was erected and furnished, alongside to community gardens.
Mandela Day 2013: Renewed Hope
This year, Human Settlement communities were not the focus of the City, yet the community Blikkiesdorp, was not neglected. A number of organisations including The Hope Foundation and Citrine Construction participated in creating Public value and uplifting the Community of Blikkiesdorp.
Citrine Construction donated fruit trees to the gardens of Blikkiesdorp, which would serve as a source of revenue for the community, additionally be a sustainable and economical food source. Volunteers from Citrine Construction and Community volunteers assisted with the planting of the trees. The gardens will be tended to each day of the year by volunteers of the Community.