South Africa
South Africa– Why this Project Matters
Nearly 70% of South Africa’s population resides in urban areas, creating challenges such as unequal population distribution and persistent inequality. Many rural towns are experiencing decline, and the potential of technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship for revitalization remains underutilized. Social cohesion is critical to transformation and empowerment at the local level.
During the country selection process, we analyzed various sustainability criteria, including the level of interest from key sectors and the support they can provide to the program, among other factors.
Project Location: OR Tambo, Eastern Cape
The OR Tambo District is in South Africa’s Wild Coast Region. Mthatha, a growing city, faces socioeconomic challenges and depopulated rural villages. Our efforts in 2025 will focus on driving sustainable development for local entrepreneurs by improving connectivity, energy, housing, and water infrastructure.
Project Partners
Our program, Welcome to My Village, collaborates with organizations such as the Eastern Cape House of Traditional and Khoisan Leaders, the Swiss Embassy, and ReimagineSA. In the first phase, this collaborative initiative focuses on revitalizing villages in the OR Tambo District, Eastern Cape. In the second phase, once business opportunities are identified, the program aims to encourage migration from Mthatha to these revitalized areas, strengthening local communities by welcoming newcomers.
Complementing our efforts, partner organizations were identified to provide support in areas such as business education, digitalization, and infrastructure to enhance living standards while stimulating economic activity and job creation.
Country Partner: ReimagineSA
ReimagineSA, founded by Mamphela Ramphele, aligns with our program’s focus on social transformation and empowerment. Using the Letsema Process, an African wisdom-based approach, ReimagineSA engages communities to identify and address their needs, fostering sustainable development and access to essential services.
Project Key Goals
Our development model enables us to establish a strong foundation within the community, helping them envision a prosperous future where local goals are achieved, and the community becomes attractive for welcoming new urban families. By fostering empowerment and maintaining close relationships with communities, we will bridge gaps that often prevent local stakeholders from engaging due to apathy, mistrust, or a lack of a shared vision. This is particularly evident in regions like Eastern Cape, where existing market solutions often fail to reach communities. Through our prioritization of education and basic infrastructure, we want to integrate local actors by providing a “Last Mile” connection, ensuring solutions effectively reach those who need them.
Through enhancing critical infrastructure—such as connectivity, energy, housing, and water access—we aim to promote sustainable development and equitable opportunities for all. Our approach leverages technology and community collaboration to generate transformative outcomes that benefit both current and future generations.
The objectives outlined for the 18-month revitalization phases (2025–2026) in Eastern Cape are designed to lay the groundwork for the program’s transformative impact. This will culminate in the final 18-month phase of Welcome to My Village: sustainable repopulation. Together, these phases constitute a comprehensive 36-month program focused on creating long-term, sustainable change.
During the first 18 months of community revitalization, our key objectives include:
- Community Integration for a Fresh Vision: Identify local leaders and foster collaboration by organizing resources and community activities to co-create a shared vision where local employment thrives and newcomers integrate seamlessly, drawn by clearly identified opportunities.
- Last Mile Activities.: Strengthen Infrastructure for Job Creation: Prioritize the development of essential infrastructure—focusing on connectivity, energy, and water access—to support sustainable growth and bridge urban-rural disparities. This investment not only enables job creation directly associated with infrastructure projects but also enhances the existing potential for businesses and commercial activities already underway, empowering local communities and attracting new residents.
- Last Mile Activities: Training for Entrepreneurial Development: Provide comprehensive support in business model refinement and online marketing strategies in collaboration with local partners, leveraging the region’s potential and expanding opportunities beyond local boundaries.
- Last Mile Activities: Bridging Education with Local Opportunities: Collaborate with local partners to deliver targeted educational programs in areas such as agriculture, digitalization, and technical training, ensuring alignment with local needs and bridging skill gaps to support essential services and community growth.
- Mapping Potential for Repopulation: Conduct in-depth mapping to identify service and product gaps that can serve as opportunities for business development.This comprehensive analysis also highlights challenges, preparing the community to become even more attractive to new residents and paving the way for sustainable repopulation.
Financing the Project
Rooted in intersectoral collaboration, our initiative has successfully completed the fully funded feasibility phase, which assessed governmental alignment and partner engagement. As we move forward into the 18-month revitalization phases (2025–2026) for communities in Eastern Cape, we are seeking philanthropic support to cover the project’s operational expenses. This essential funding will drive the revitalization of communities in the OR Tambo region of Eastern Cape, enabling transformative change.
We warmly invite your involvement and look forward to connecting with you.