SJC’s Inclusive WDC2014 Caucus Launched

In the build up to Cape Town as the World Design Capital in 2014 and South Africa’s twentieth year of democracy, the Social Justice Coalition (SJC) has undertaken to facilitate the formation of a broad based civil society and design community caucus, which will not only include communities and grass-roots organisations but will allow its work to be informed by them – in short, Ukuyila Ngabantu / Design by the People / Ontwerp deur die Mense.

The inaugural caucus meeting was held on 5 May 2012 in Khayelitsha. 70 individuals, representing community-based organisations, academic institutions and business, attended the meeting. The meeting facilitated engagements and productive critical debate between communities, architects, designers, artists, engineers, activists and business. The engagements made it apparent that members of the design community are interested in engaging with grassroots community-based organisations to identify socio-economic challenges that could potentially be solved by design intervention. The consensus was that these engagements and potential partnerships would contribute towards changing the lived urban environment for the betterment of all – but particularly those living on Cape Town’s periphery.

In order for this broad vision to be realised a necessary next step is required to truly realise Ukuyila Ngabantu / Design by the People / Ontwerp deur die Mense. Design thinking and an awareness of its potential benefits continues to be restricted to a handful of communities in the City of Cape Town. For this reason, and to facilitate engagement and partnership, design education and design related workshops are required at a grassroots level.

Those present agreed on seven guiding principles to instruct our work going forward:

 

 

FOUNDING PRINCIPLES

Formulated at Inaugural Meeting – 5 May 2012, Site C Hall, Khayelitsha

1. We are committed to the progressive advancement of the quality of life for all people living in Cape Town and South Africa
2. We acknowledge that unsustainable levels of inequality and poverty across South Africa, particularly prevalent in our expanding urban centres, results in the continued violation of basic rights for those living in historically under-developed communities
3. We believe that the reshaping of our lived environment through design can contribute to addressing these challenges.
4. We believe that solutions can be accelerated through the development of partnerships – between communities, NGOs, experts, government and the private sector. We believe that this in itself will contribute to unifying our historically divided communities.
5. We believe that sustainable design solutions must grow out of meaningful, participatory engagement with affected communities.  In advocating for Ukuyila Ngabantu/Design by the People/Ontwerp Deur die Mense we affirm that change can come through inclusion, engagement and communal action that works towards dignified, healthy and safe communities.
6. We believe that in order for future dignified, healthy and safe communities to be sustainable, environmental consideration needs to form a cornerstone of our work.
7. We believe that the WDC2014 designation should be seen as an opportunity to advance these principles. In order for this to happen, it should also be an opportunity to critically reflect on our past, present and future in an inclusive environment.

IMITHETHO YESISEKELO

Yenziwe Kumhlangano Wokuqala – 5 May 2012, Site C Hall, Khayelitsha

1. Sizimisele kwinkqubela phambili yokuphuculwa kwemigangatho yobomi bomntu wonke ohlala eKapa naseMzantsi Afrika.
2. Siyavuma ukuba imigangatho engalawulekiyo yokungalingani neyendlala kuMzantsi Afrika wonke, exhaphake ngakumbi kwiidolophu zethu ezikhulayo, ineziphumo zokuqhubekeka kokuxhatshazwa kwamalingelo abo bahlala kwiingingqi ezingaphucukanga ngenxa yembali yeli.
3. Sikholelwa ekuba ukutshintshwa kobume nemeko yeendawo esihlala kuzo ngokuyila  kunganegalelo ekukhawuleleni ezingxaki.
4. Sikholelwa ekuba izisombululo zingakhawuleziswa ngokuthi kuphuculwe ubudlelwane – phakathi kokuhlala, iimibutho ezimeleyo, iingcaphephe, urhulumente kunye namacandelo abucala. Sikholelwa ekuba lento ngokwayo izakuba negalelo ekudibaniseni iingingqi ezahlukaniswa yimbali yeli.
5. Sikholelwa ukuba izisombululo zokuyila eziqhubekekayo kufuneka zikhule ngokuthi iingingqi ezichaphazelekayo zithathe inxaxheba kuthetha-thethwano. Ekuthetheleleni uKuyila Ngabantu/Design by the People/Ontwerp Deur die Mense siyaqinisekisa ukuba utshintsho lungafumaneka ngenxa yokunxulumana, uthetha-thethwano kunye nentshukumo yasekuhlaleni esebenzela ekubeni kubekho iingingqi ezinesidima, ezinempilo nezikhuselekileyo.
6. Sikholelwa ekubeni ukuze iingingqi ezinesidima, ezinempilo nezikhuselekileyo zengomso zibe nenqkubela, ukuthathelwa kwengqalelo kobume nemeko yeendawo esihlala kuzo kufuneka kube sisiqalo somsebenzi wethu.
7. Sikholelwa ekubeni okukuchongwa kweWDC2012 kufuneka kubonwe njengethuba lokuqhubekekisa phambili lemithetho. Ukuze lento yenzeke, kufuneka ibelilo nethuba lokuba kujongwe emva kwimbali, kwixa esikulo ngoku nakwingomso kwindawo enxulumeneyo.

GRONDBEGINSELS

Geformuleer by die Stigtingsvergardering – 5 Mei 2012, Site C Hall, Khayelitsha

1. Ons is verbind tot die progressiewe bevordering van die lewens kwaliteit van almal in Kaapstad en Suid-Afrika;
2. Ons erken dat onvolhoubare vlakke van ongelykheid en armoede regoor Suid-Afrika, veral in ons groeiende stede, bydra tot die voortgesette skending van die basiese regte van mense wat in historiese-onder-ontwikkelde gemeenskappe lewe.
3. Ons glo dat die hervorming van ons omgewing deur ontwerp sal bydra tot die aanspreeking van die uitdagings.
4. Ons glo dat dié oplossings versnel kan word deur die ontwikkeling van vennootskappe tussen gemeenskappe, NRO’s, kundiges, die regering en die privaat sektor. Ons glo dat dit op sigself sal bydra tot die vereniging van ons historiese verdeelde gemeenskappe.
5. Ons glo dat volhoubare ontwerp oplossings van uit sinvolle, deelnemende betrokkenheid met geaffekteerde gemeenskappe moet groei. In ons pleit vir Ukuyila Ngabantu / Design By the People / Ontwerp Deur die Mense bevestig ons dat verandering slegs deur insluiting, betrokkenheid en gemeenskaplike aksie, wat saam werk tot die besef van waardige, gesonde en veilige gemeenskappe, sal kom.
6. Ons glo dat om toekomstige waardige, gesonde en veilige gemeenskappe volhoubaar te maak moet oorweging van die omgewing ‘n hoeksteen van ons werk wees.
7. Ons glo dat die ‘WDC2014’ aanwysing gesien moet word as ‘n geleentheid om hierdie beginsels te bevorder. Vir dit om te gebeur, moet dit ook ‘n geleentheid wees om krities te reflekteer op ons verlede, hede en toekoms in ‘n inklusiewe omgewing.

For more information on how to get involved or to be added to the mailing list please contact Dalli Weyers on 0824602093 or .

Follow @sjcoaltion on twitter for updates.

 

 

[1] City of Cape Town. Water Services Development Plan for the City of Cape Town 2011/2012 – 2015/16. Pg. 120