South Africa

In 2024, the ES VICIS Foundation took significant steps to introduce the “Welcome to My Village” program to South Africa, focusing on partnerships and collaboration with key stakeholders. This journey culminated in a historic pledge of commitment, marking a milestone in revitalizing rural communities in the Eastern Cape. On August 23, 2024, a signing ceremony was held in partnership with Reimagine SA, with key figures from the Eastern Cape House of Traditional Leaders, the Embassy of Switzerland in South Africa, and other partners endorsing the pledge.   On 23, August, 2024, ES VICIS Foundation, in partnership with Reimagine SA, hosted a momentous signing ceremony for the “Welcome to My Village” pledge. The pledge was endorsed by four parties: Chief Mpumalanga Gwadiso, Chairperson, Representing the Eastern Cape House of Traditional and Khoisan Leaders. H.E. Ambassador Mirko Manzoni, Representing the Embassy of Switzerland in South Africa. Johannes Matyassy, Board President, Representing ES VICIS Foundation. Thando S. Gobe, Chairman, Representing Reimagine SA.  The pledge represents a unified commitment to the “Welcome to My Village” program, facilitated through Reimagine SA’s Letsema Process. Together, we aim to: Create thriving rural communities in the Eastern Cape by promoting sustainable migration from urban to rural areas. Address critical issues like depopulation and economic decline by leveraging technology, fostering entrepreneurship, and enhancing local infrastructure. Support newcomers with housing, employment opportunities, and cultural integration to ensure a seamless transition into village life. Johannes Matyassy, President of the Board of ES VICIS Foundation, reflected on the program’s evolution: “In 2014, as the Swiss Ambassador to Argentina, I supported this groundbreaking model that challenges global trends. We achieved remarkable results in Argentina, a country with 92% of its population in urban areas. After successfully expanding the model there, we are now ready to bring our mission to South Africa.” The “Welcome to My Village” initiative is grounded in years of experience and a proven track record of revitalizing rural communities. Cintia Jaime, Co-Founder of ES VICIS Foundation, expressed her excitement about this next chapter: “We have shown that it is possible to repopulate and revitalize villages facing depopulation, defying global trends. Today, we are thrilled to sign this pledge to implement the program in Eastern Cape, South Africa—a region heavily impacted by urban migration. With Reimagine SA, the support of the Swiss Embassy in South Africa, and the Eastern Cape House of Traditional Leaders, we invite you to join us in this impactful journey!” Reimagine SA has been instrumental in forging partnerships and aligning efforts to bring the “Welcome to My Village” model to South Africa. Luvuyo Madasa, Executive Director of Reimagine SA, highlighted the potential of this collaboration: “We are thrilled about the opportunity to bring the ‘Welcome to My Village’ model and our partnership with ES VICIS Foundation to South Africa. Our work in the Northwest has helped us build a strong relationship with the Eastern Cape House of Traditional Leaders. This model offers an exciting opportunity to align existing programs and partners in a structured way, ensuring meaningful impact for communities that need it most.” Dr. Mamphela Ramphele, Founder of Reimagine SA, celebrated the generational effort driving this initiative: “Thank you for bringing this wonderful opportunity and for figuring out the alignments and partnerships. I hand over to you and your generation. Thank you.”