Site visits & Updates:

Site visits and update 

Site visit 3-4
To gain entrance into the community and find out more about the social aspects, I got a chance to volunteer at the Jan Hofmeyer community center (Soup Kitchen). This was my tool for immersing myself into the site. 

Jan Hofmeyer Community Services Board 

A bit about the community services

• Founded in 2000 by Frances Botha and Rosaline Wallace (Residents of Fietas)
• Non-Profit Company Serving residents of Jan Hofmeyer, Vredepark and Vrededorp neighbourhoods
• Soup Kitchen Serves 350 people (ave.) daily
• From young children to elderly residents. 

Change Agents

The community center appears to serve a valuable role in the neighbourhood. In providing a daily meal for the residents, the center seeks to make a positive contribution to the neighbourhood and residents. 

The managers at the centre see themselves as agents of positive change in the Fietas. 

“Even If we can make a change in the life of one person, that goes a long way...”

-Rosaline -  Owner at the soup kitchen

Jan Hofmeyer Community Services. various initiatives serving residents

From a few of the community members spoken to at the soup kitchen, as well as from the the volunteers at the centre, I received a deeper insight into the various issues faced by the community as well as where some of the issues happen. 

Substance abuse. 

Substance abuse seems to stand out as a prevalent issue related to the various challenges in the neighborhood.

Visiting the centre a few times has been a great help in learning more about Fietas, more especially with regards to the social realities in Fietas

Opportunities for intervention

A few points/ findings that seem to stand out from the engagement with the community 

• The crime and drug condition
• Majority of young people being unemployed
• A reported sense of entitlement among a number of local residents
• Discouraging environment and public realm
• Prevalence of elderly people 

Another Opportunity: 8th Street, Active transport route and
early stages of Corridors of Freedom development. 

 From Here

From here I look to going deeper into considering these conditions, their causes and possible responses. In breaking them down I intend to consider which of them have spatial implications and opportunities to intervene.