By Wilma Jakobsen | Project Leader
THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROUS GIFTS DURING THIS VOLMOED 40TH ANNIVERSARY YEAR!
The 40th anniversary in April was a glorious day after much rain - over a hundred people joined from all corners to celebrate forty years of Volmoed and healing, justice, reconciliation at work. Much planning and lots of hard work went into our Celebration event, which was a huge success, including drumming for young and old, shared stories of Volmoed memories and the early years, the dedication of the new Tutu Rose Garden and a magnificent tea/coffee around the pond. This was followed by a scrumptious BBQ lunch, prepared by our staff, for staff, residents, the young people from the youth leadership project, and some invited guests. This inaugurated the new picnic spot under the trees, using seats and tables cut from wooden logs that had been tall trees needing to be cut down. We think this will become a well-used spot by staff and guests.
As we look back in joyful awe of the past 40 years on Volmoed, we also know that we can look forward to continued growth as we move forward in hope that it will continue into the future. We are reminded of this when we see the beauty around us.
We’ve had some wonderful visitors the last few months. Among the groups that come to Volmoed, the Leadership for Humanity program of the Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation is an annual highlight. It brings together younger entrepreneurs, artists, and community development workers from all sectors, who are changing people’s lives. They spend four days at Volmoed and focus on Archbishop Tutu’s values and legacy of ubuntu, forgiveness, healing, leadership, and how to integrate these in their lives and work. Archbishop Tutu was Volmoed patron before he passed away in December 2021. This April, participants described their time at Volmoed as ‘life-altering’. Sessions teach Archbishop Tutu’s life and values, and then do brave interior work on healing themselves in order to heal the world. The program includes early morning movement, mindfulness and meditation in beautiful spaces; fireside story telling about Archbishop Tutu and his leadership; silent walks and ‘nature-gazing’. The morning we stood around the new Tutu memorial rose garden and water feature, a rainbow appeared! We stood in silent wonder at the rainbow for some moments. They loved their time at Volmoed and did not want to leave.
The Overstrand Learning Hub made use of the Conference Centre for a day of ethical leadership training, and in keeping with the ethos of Volmoed, in response to threats of possible local xenophobic violence, we provided safe accommodation to some foreign nationals when approached for help.
Other visitors during this period were the Geoscience Club who hiked on the property and had a picnic under the trees, and the Cape Leopard Trust.
In May we hosted Isobel de Gruchy’s seminar on the Erica flowers found on Volmoed, which are abundant and in some cases, uniquely found worldwide only on Volmoed! This was well attended by an appreciative audience despite the wintery weather.
It is a joy when volunteers arrive and want to contribute to the work of Volmoed. A young couple, Sarah and Dave, moved into Volmoed in June, living simply in their caravan, and will stay for about six months. Staff worked hard to build a small bathroom next to their caravan spot. Sarah is volunteering in the office at weekends and Dale has led morning meetings and will help with programs and more.
We now have a new General Manager, Jody White, who started in May. He lives on the property, and co-hosts volunteers and visiting scholars. He has hiked and cleared alien vegetation to make paths more accessible, and has a creative flair for making meeting spaces beautiful.
Aging infrastructure continues to be a challenge after forty years. A large water leak was discovered by accident when trying to find a break in a lengthy electricity cable that was not working. Our staff continue to work hard on keeping the guesthouse, infrastructure, and gardens beautiful, and to clear alien vegetation on the property.
One of the biggest challenges in May and June was having no power for five and a half weeks, due to massive winds and rain storms in May, followed by an 1800 ft electric cable theft under the cover of thick darkness and no power. We are thankful that we had minimal damage from the storms other than branches strewn everywhere, and the trees that came down were nowhere near any of the buildings, though we did have to say goodbye to an old leafy friend outside the office.
Diesel fuel is very expensive and generator use was needed, and the basics of life become super focused. Like so many others, we coped and managed thanks to the solar system carrying us through as best it can. One tried to be patient, with enormous gratitude for small things, and, it was a very challenging time.
In June the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) informed us that the Cape Nature Western Cape Stewardship Review Panel approved that, together with our two neighbouring properties, we have been recommended as a Protected Environment. This application aligns with our commitment to environmental protection. The Cape Leopard Trust has placed cameras on the Volmoed property, hoping to spot the wildlife and possibly some of the rare leopards in the area. They have captured some wonderful sightings.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR GENEROUS SUPPORT.
YOUR DONATIONS HELP US CONTINUE THE WORK OF HEALING, JUSTICE AND RECONCILIATION IN SO MANY WAYS.
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