In the Lynedoch Valley, food is more than sustenance—it’s a conversation starter that bridges divides in a community marked by inequality. The essence of being South African is rooted in the diversity of our country. Diversity in cultures, languages, traditions and ways of being. This diversity can be both dangerous and beautiful, depending on how we engage with one another. The Lynedoch Valley, which consists of the Vlottenburg, Vlaeberg and Lynedoch communities, is situated on the outskirts of Stellenbosch. Like much of South Africa, the Valley has beauty in its diversity but is also reflective of high levels of inequality. Luxury housing estates and serene farmland are surrounded by communities living in difficult circumstances. Some residents rarely worry about where their next meal comes from, others go to bed hungry on a regular basis. One of the things that unites people is the fact that no matter what, each and every one of us needs to eat. This is a story about how a small group of people concerned about their neighbours going to bed hungry is growing into a community that is able to take collective action for a safer, healthier, economically active and socially cohesive community.
Food relief is not a long term solution to food insecurity, but it is a conversation starter. During the Covid-19 pandemic, a collective from the community identified a number of vulnerable families in Lynedoch and Vlottenburg, and the group came together to help with food security and emergency healthcare relief. A community committee, in close collaboration with local NGOs, schools, farms and businesses, was formed to further understand the problems that the community faces and ways to make a change. In Vlottenburg, a community kitchen was established which united diverse residents from different skin colours and social classes to work together to provide cooked meals on Sundays to families in need. Arts and recreation programs, church leaders, ward committee members, local NGO’s and other community kitchens joined the conversation.
Over time, the committee evolved into a group of over 20 individuals from different stakeholders in the area, united by a passion for seeing positive change in their communities. Areas of concern grew from food security to education, youth unemployment, physical and mental health, art and recreational activities and more. In 2023, the community committee was renamed as the Valley Collaborative and with guidance from Ranyaka Community Transformation, started a formal process to map the needs, strengths and desires of the Valley communities. Ranyaka has over a decade of experience in working with communities all across South Africa. The organisation strives to “activate communities to self-organise around a common agenda”. To do this they help identify and empower local change agents to design, lead and implement solutions to the problems that the community faces.
Community Mapping
In April 2024, the Valley Collaborative and Ranyaka got together to facilitate a community mapping workshop at the Sustainability Institute. This event brought together the voices of over 50 people from local farms, schools, NGO’s, youth and community leaders. People who might not normally engage with one another worked together, side by side to identify the needs, strengths and desires of the Vlottenburg and Lynedoch communities. School principles at the same table as learners, farm managers at the same table as farm workers. It was a space where everyone was welcome and encouraged to share their stories. After completing the activities, participants shared a meal together and were sent home with a seedling to remind them that everyone plays a role in nurturing a strong community. The seedlings were planted in containers that were hand painted by youth from the Lynedoch Youth Programme, some of whom also gave their input at the workshop.
The results of the workshop tell part of the story, but this was just the start of understanding the needs, strengths and desires of the Valley communities. The next phase involved individual follow ups, group feedback sessions and reaching out to people who might not have been able to attend the workshop in April. Through these further engagements, priority areas were identified and 6 action groups are in the process of being formed. The goal of an action group is for diverse people to work together to address specific issues in the communities that were highlighted as priorities. Each group will play an important role in designing and implementing a plan for action, ensuring community ownership.
“If people are part of the process in what we want to build, then everyone will look after it. Nobody will steal from the building or damage it because we will build it together.”
-Community Kitchen Leader
If it’s to be it’s up to all of us
In a recent interaction with an action group that formed through 7 community kitchens in the area, the group spoke about the idea of putting up a container that can be used as a shared kitchen because there is a lack of community facilities in Vlottenburg. Currently, the leaders of community kitchens cook from their own homes in the community, but the group felt that they can make a bigger impact if they can cook together under one roof. This can also open up the possibility for other community members to help with cooking. Crime is a concern in the area and someone asked the question of how the group can make sure that people won’t steal from the kitchen or put graffiti on the walls. The solution was clear: the community must have ownership and be proud of the kitchen. Everyone agreed that security will not be an issue if people are part of the process.
Change in the Valley doesn’t happen by accident—it’s driven by the hands and hearts of those willing to act. Whether it’s sharing a meal, planting a seed, or sitting side by side to discuss solutions, the responsibility for a stronger, more united community rests on all of us. If real change is to happen, it’s up to all of us to make it a reality.
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