Welcome to ‘Wasteland –Graced Land’, South Africa

Welcome to ‘Wasteland – Graced Land’, South Africa This presentation shares how a community known as ‘a forgotten people’, living in recurring poverty and lack of access and opportunity to inclusive tourism -and peripheral services entrepreneurial benefits, has risen from the ashes of a waste land into a Graced Land in Melkhoutfontein, South Africa.

Where did it all start? Dreamcatcher South Africa’s founder has actively championed equality and inclusivity in tourism enterprise opportunities, community -and environmental impact development, since 1990. Embarking on the journey with committed management boards, representative of the diverse population and supported by international funders, Dreamcatcher disrupted orthodox business and -social development models to develop a pluralistic model enabling sustainable futures for the greater good of society. Going truly local, Dreamcatcher disrupted antiquated tourism routes and tour itineraries, enabling geographical spread across South Africa and beyond into Africa. Recruiting aspiring enterprises from across the country, training was enhanced with ‘for purpose’ modules. Today a new generation of tourism business enterprises are welcoming and servicing local engagement and community-based encounters, where equality in humanity is the cornerstone of experiences, on mainstream tourism routes in South Africa. Melkhoufontein had been identified as one of he most destitute communities in the Western Cape in social research projects by Lundahl et al in 1967 and research spearheaded by the Human Research Council of South Africa in 1991 reached the same findings in 1991. Dreamcatcher founder Anthea’s mindset, supported by her Board, was that if they worked to pioneer tangible destination transformation for tourism inclusion in a provenworst-off township community, it would test their mettle to provide lessons to inform an outcome with potential to helpinfluence further development of struggling township communities in South Africa in the growth sector industry oftourism and spin-off peripheral services industry. This lead to pioneering into various townships in cities / towns acrossSouth Africa. Today besides usual visitor sights travels includeitineraries offering diversity, adventure and Inclusivity of a trulySouth African experience for visitors and proudly business run enterprises across South Africa.

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Overview: What can visitors, researchers, volunteers and interns experience atWASTELAND – GRACED LAND MELKHOUTFONTEIN and what was involved?

An overview of the positive quality of life, socio-economic -and environmental impact in the community of Melkhoutfontein destination imagineered and innovated for improved quality of life and sustainable futures by Dreamcatcher South Africa in a community transformation projects partnering with the community, supported by funders and collaborating volunteers and trainers at

‘Wasteland – Graced Land’ Melkhoutfontein


Melkhoutfontein, is known today as the “Forgotten People”. Yet they havea rich, significant history of global relevance. They have been indisputablyfound to be the first nation to live in this stunningly beautiful area with anabundance of wild –and marine life and local resources. Found to be thefirst people in the world to have linked their humanity and lifestyle to theaesthetics, they engraved red ochre pieces, developed Stillbay (Stilbaai)points and pierced shell beads found in the Blombos Cave, and built theancient fish traps still in use today. These artefacts, which can be viewedin the local Museum in Stilbay (Stilbaai) housed at the information office,are nearly 80,000 years old and represent the first evidence for humancreativity, adornment and symbolism. Living between 2 waste dump sitesoutside the beautiful resort town of Stilbaai. The community ofMelkhoutfontein has been re-imagined into one tangibly experiencingimproved quality of life, community pride, jobs, addressing food povertyand entrepreneurial development, through tourism. Due to the impactfulcontribution of the Wasteland – Graced land and authentic local life aslived encounters, global visitors find their experience uplifting,empowering, educational and downright fun as they step back into thepast and then step forward into the future with the local community.

The Awakening of Melkhoutfontein


Wasteland – Graced Land is situated in Melkhoutfontein, close to Stilbaai in the Hessequa region of the Garden Route, Western Cape Province, South Africa


Visitors rediscover history of global significance with the locals as they paint their ancient culture back into their lives on the “Arts & Crafts for Humanity’ project

.©Dreamcatcher SA Copyright 2020

Community Life: Sharing the amazing impact on a daily basis, as each mural re-awakens their cultural history, with visitors part of the transformation - magic!


Where a waste dumpsite and alien plant species destroyed indigenous habitat: Now transformed locals and visitors experience join in to be part of the transformation. The botanical garden is now part of a UN declared Biosphere!


Organic vegetables and herbs are grown on a test garden informing a scaled up project transferred into the local community who struggle to afford a healthy, balanced diet


Help to restore the ancient fish traps, close to stunning beaches; go on a ‘walkabout’ with community guides to engage with locals


Visitors join the local youth in classes; Arts & Crafts for Humanity; crafting, join physical stretch classes in engaging, transfer life skills in interactive and fun encounters


Visitors join the local crafting enterprises who make and sell their crafts, where the enterprises share their story of how they are adding value to the waste they recycle in their community and addressing climate change - no one leaves empty handed!


Enjoy typical mouth watering food with CookUp Kamamma


Typical welcoming Homestay with Kamamma accommodation –where quality local engagement and humanity are key values


Community well-being is core to Dreamcatcher South Africa. Our pluralistic approach offers community support with First Aid emergency response unit deployed, mental – and physical development - and youth empowerment. When the COVID19 pandemic arrived in South Africa, our Response team were ready to swing into action with support programmes.


So what has been our impact?


* Working to address the UN SDG’s since 2000, by 2020 we are delivering on the 2030 UN Goals as indicated below in this community, once called “the forgotten people’, now known as Wasteland – Graced Land.* Moreover, for peace of mind of communities, enterprises, visitors, funders and supporters, we proudly report that in terms of BB-BEE a National Government recognition scoring system for active, proven Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment, to facilitate reconstruction and development in South Africa, Dreamcatcher is accredited the highest grade namely: Level 1 (135% empowerment and procurement level). * Of the many awards humbly received our top reward, also experienced in the community, among the network of tourism enterprises and visitors, is the equality, inclusivity and diversity and inspiring level of harmony in humanity visitors, communities and enterprises enjoy.

We proudly share the global recognition we are honoured with:* One of World’s Top Social Innovators – World - CSR Organisation – India * Best in Business Excellence Community Impact - AI Global Media – United Kingdom * Gatwick Green Diamond Champion Business Awards – Gatwick, United Kingdom * One of Top 3 Investors in People in Tourism – WTTO* Millennium Woman for Women Community Development Award – Canada* Top Marketing Organisation – Indaba, Durban - South Africa: Fair Trade * Excellence in Tourism Leadership – Africa Travel Leadership Forum – Kigali, Rwanda 2020* Championing Sustainability - Africa Travel Leadership Forum – Kigali, Rwanda 2020

Impact: Where to now? Let’s respond to the UN call for responsible consumption and address the 2030 goals together – its Possible!


• Working to address the UN SDG’s since 2000, by 2020 we are turning aspiration to tangible delivery of the UN Goals in the community destination, once called “a forgotten and destitute people’, now called

’Wasteland – Graced Land Melkhoutfontein• Our mindset and work is today globally recognised and viewed as a blueprint for inclusive sustainable

socio-economic development with merit to visit and implement where relevant to ‘Build Back Better” post Covid19.

• Visitors and locals can join us through their patronage on touring itineraries to increase this impact one visitor at a time to increase the footprint of sustainable travel and tourism, environmental and social transformation to other communities where we are already involved across South, Southern and into Northern and Western Africa and beyond. Please join us on your next visit or contact us at

http://www.dreamcatchersouthafrica.com/contact

http://www.dreamcatchersouthafrica.com/contact

Impact: What can one person do?Inspiration and Commitment:Dreamcatcher initiated a DC Going Places Kids in 2004 which entailed feeding programmes, exercise, teaching English to enable advance in post school studies and work opportunities and environmental stewardship projects. In one community where little command of English prevailed, motivation, mentoring, self confidence and enterprise benefits were transferred. A good example of this is that English was taught by volunteers visiting the community from around the world over a protracted period. Today children engage with visitors on the Wasteland – Graced Land Melkhoutfontein tourism experience. A example of the tangible impact of tourism in this community is that one CookUp with Kamamma who joined the enterprise programme in 2003, are that her children joined the DC Kids project 14 years and the enterprises has earned business income and support to ensure her children’s futures. Today one son is a qualified chef, another a 2nd year teaching student at University and her daughter, empowered via visiting maths experts to grasp and love maths, evolved to top scholastic accolades and now a 1st year medical student. Its possible one visitor at a time! We welcome your contact to join us today to enhance your visit to South Africa or to fine out more about ‘the Dreamcatcher Way’. http://www.dreamcatchersouthafrica.com


Documents

Welcome to ‘Wasteland –Graced Land’, South Africa