Homeowners from last year’s JCWP enjoy their 1-year-old community in Durban, South Africa.

A 'Place of Hope' Lives Up to Its Name
by Samantha Schroeder

Long before the arrival of the volunteers, the flag raising and excitement of the event, the 2002 Jimmy Carter Work Project homeowners in Durban, South Africa, came together to name their future home. They decided to call the site Ethembeni, a Zulu expression meaning "place of hope."

They wanted it to be a model community for the city of Durban, a living demonstration of diverse people united by common values and known by their commitment to one another. Here was a chance to overcome racial and cultural differences by creating an inclusive community rooted in a new culture of opportunity. The JCWP was an ambitious effort to jump-start that dream.

At the end of JCWP week, inevitably came the day when the volunteers went home, the banners came down and the homeowners were left to create their new community. The question, one year later: Is Ethembeni living up to its name?

To homeowner Emma Philips, the answer is clear. As she walks one afternoon with her neighbor, Boniwe Daniso, they stop to greet the Gambushe family. Philips pauses to share a story: "I ran out of sugar last night, so they gave me half their bag. It's like that here," she says. "We help each other, because we know what it's like not to have things. When someone is sick or loses their job, we divide up our food. They are our brothers and sisters here. We are not seeing their color."

No doubt, when a community is created with 100 families who were once strangers, successful assimilation is likely to be hard-won.

"In the past year we have had our growing pains," says Nofika Hlakanyane, Ethembeni affiliate coordinator. "This is a diverse group of people who bring different beliefs and lifestyles into the community. Some of their rural practices are not appropriate in this place. But the homeowners are prepared to deal with their differences, because they went through a lot of education and developed good relationships in the months leading up to the JCWP."

Since June 2002, some 40 families have joined the 100 JCWP families at Ethembeni. But they have worked together from the beginning to build, learn and save in preparation for this second phase of development.

"Because the newer homeowners already knew the people and understood Habitat's vision, their integration has been smooth," says Hlakanyane. "We will do the same with each of the additional 210 families who will come into this community in the next few years."

The atmosphere of Ethembeni, screened by trees and brush, defies the image of a low-cost housing community, which is typically set in barren, treeless surroundings. "Many of the homeowners are making valiant efforts to develop attractive gardens and lawns around their homes, despite very difficult soil conditions," says volunteer Rory Marten. "Some have even tried vegetable and small-crop growing. To this end, a garden project has been instituted with donor funds to guide and assist the community with garden development."

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