Manenberg Carbon Negative Center for Excellence

Vital Stats

Leslie L

Nashville, TN

people helped1200
People Doing It 3

The Problem

Going to Manenberg, South Africa revealed many social injustices that ranged from inadequate living conditions to environmental degradation. Manenberg has a strong community focus that is desperately seeking a transition from poverty and despair to progression and hope. Currently, Manenberg lacks facilities to foster the many raw talents such as music and art that community members of Manenberg possess. Coupled with the fact that there is a poor education system with a dilapidated school building in the midst of a township brimming with crime, violence, and drugs, there is no public space to promote positive community activities.

Plan of Action

We aim to use the assets-based model of development by hosting a building workshop in which a community center is constructed. The center will be made from a range of sustainable, adaptable building techniques from straw bale and interlocking stabilized soil blocks utilizing handmade windmills, water filters, and composting toilets. In this way, the community will gain education in a variety of comfortable sustainable living methods and skills to allow endogenous (self-empowerment) development. This process will aim to facilitate rebuilding of the existing school and new homes. The building will involve simple yet effective carbon reduction techniques and allow Manenberg to be a driving force for sustainable systems in Africa.