The New World Foundation was founded in 1980 in the Cape Flats township of Lavender Hill. How ironic to have named a place Lavender Hill when there is no lavender, and, no hill. But this irony reflects the kind  | Der Eingangsbereich des Gemeinwesenzentrums der New World Foundation bei Nacht
Foto: Kathrin Herbold |
of thinking present at the time Lavender Hill was established under the Group Areas Act (1950) of Apartheid.
This Act resulted in thousands of people being forcibly removed from their homes to demarcated areas, known as ‘housing estates’ in Cape Town. Lavender Hill’s housing was constructed between 1972 and 1974 and these badly constructed housing estates still, to this day, bear testament to the architectural genius of the Apartheid government. At a time of hopelessness, injustice and war, the NWF was established with the vision of ‘building a newworld of hope, justice and peace’. The organisation was founded in affiliation with the United Reformed Church and it has weathered the storms of intense political instability during the 1980s.
During this time, it opposed Apartheid and fought for the political and human rights of the people in Lavender Hill. Although the political situation has changed dramatically in South Africa, the problems in Lavender Hill are no longer black and white. After 24 years, the NWF is still fighting oppression. In this community people’s daily lives are characterised by crime, unemployment, lack of infrastructure and gangsterism. Through its various training programmes and social upliftment initiatives, the NWF reaches out to the community.
In its attempt to plant the seeds of hope, justice and peace, this community can begin to smell the feint scent of lavender. |
New World Foundation 
