Community Development

The Healing Africa Foundation is fully committed and focused towards implementing viable development programs that enhance local communities, taking into account the environmental, social and economic factors within various regions. True Community Development is an ongoing process that involves the participation and commitment from local members to congregate and formulate collective strategies and solutions to their common challenges. Calling on the naturally diverse group of people within any community, to listen and understand the real needs of the collective is essential to evaluate what are the challenges being faced, and then to create the plans required to bring about the necessary solutions.

There is immense power when a group of people with similar interests gets together to work toward the same goals.
― Idowu Koyenikan, Wealth for All: Living a Life of Success at the Edge of Your Ability

Community Centers

These are public spaces where members of the local community may congregate for a multitude of reasons, the purpose of which, is to gather in groups both formally and informally to engage with each other. From socialising among peers to sharing information, participation in organised recreational activities and educational forums, these centers or hubs, are integral to the development of any community.

Each community center will consist of Permaculture Food Gardens and medicinal gardens, a healing center, a kitchen, an education center, surrounding village of green housing and meeting areas along with offices for the administration requirements. Each community center will be the hub of the area, where we develop a working model that provides skills transfer and practical application, along with distribution of food and natural wellness products and services. We envision community centers being established across South Africa and indeed in spreading into each African country, to successfully grow and develop the sustainable practices we promote.

The community centers will have a Commercial aspect to them, with shops selling handbooks and other interesting books, Healing Africa branded organic clothing, natural herbs, and handmade local crafts. Indigenous meals will provided from an Organic Restaurant, sourced from the local gardens, while tour buses and day visitors will be allowed entry at a fee to experience the community and the sustainable practices that are followed. The community center model has the potential of operating within a Franchise business model. Once any individuals who completed their training a demonstrate a clear understanding of the model and show leadership qualities, they may be appointed to form part of the replication teams who expand this model into the next region or area of need. There is no controlling body or hierarchy, only a set of parameters and guidelines to follow when establishing the community, and processes for clear and open Communication Channels to provide ongoing support as needed.