Envirochild is
a growing and diverse group of residents
 of Hout Bay,
dedicated to transforming our suburb into a healthy, prosperous and
united community
and devoloping
South Africa's first Transition Town

We believe that the principles of:
 * collective community effort
 * permaculture,
 * people empowerment and  
 * political neutrality
will enable us to make Hout Bay a sustainable place for our children to live.

We are also convinced that this is our best chance of meeting the impact of
 * fast development
 * growing population
 * climate change
 * resource depletion
 * pollution
 * energy constraints
 * poverty and
 * rising food and fuel costs.

Click here to
Join our Community
and chat to us.
We welcome your feedback and  towards improving
this initiative

Transition Town: Towns and suburbs taking responsibility for their own sustainability.
Sustainable - that which can be maintained indefinitely using local resources and energy.
Sustainable communities are those where children are healthy, safe and free to explore their environment, and can look forward to a future of abundance.
 

Sponsored by Earthdance Cape Town

STAYING IN HOUT BAY ON HOLIDAY?  - see our "Buy Local" Section

 Our goals

• To empower our community to respond effectively to energy and infrastructure limitations as well as rapidly increasing fuel prices..
   
• To educate towards a reduction in consumption, energy efficiency and  conservation awareness
   
• To propose and actively work towards workable solutions for the integration of townships into Hout Bay that provide adequate, shelter, security and amenities.
   
• To host a GREEN FAIRE  to promote the use of environmentally friendly and efficient products and the importance of growing our own food. There'll be stalls, workshops, talks, documentaries and many other inspirations towards sustainable living.
   
• To build community consciousness and strengthen the local economy through supporting local initiatives.

The ACT LOCAL Campaign

Grow Local Developing local food security through flourishing gardens, community greenhouses, and community farms
Buy Local - Promoting buying local whenever possible, and being local by    
supporting local independently-owned businesses.
Eat Local - Promoting the support local restaurants especially ones who buy locally grown produce and donate their oil for biodiesel
Build Local - Encouraging the use of sustainable materials from as close as possible.
Employ Local - Promoting the use lof ocal labour wherever possible, creating jobs wherever possible
Conserve local - ENcouraging residents and businesses to get involved in conserving our spectacular natural heritage
Local Energy - Catalyzing appropriate community responses to the current energy crisis, developing sustainable local renewable energy sources
Local Water saving - Encouraging the practice of reusing washing water for flushing, or redirecting it through filters to gardens, using low flow showerheads, etc.
Local Learning - Encouraging everyone to teach what they know to the community, knowledge, skills, ideas for a greener planet
Local Sharing - Encouraging the sharing of land,  tools or skills you can share with members of the community. See www.justfortheloveofit.org
Local Currency - Encouraging barter and trading and a less money dependent society. Join the Community Exchange and trade your skills, services and wares for other peoples skills, services, crafts, etc without using money. www.ces.org.za

Lets create solutions!

We are galvanising community interest to actively generate solutions and initiatives to deal with challenges such as housing, township integration, school capacity, quality of education, primary health services, recreational amenities, roads and transport, crime and economic inequality.

We plan to work hand in hand with the municipality, city council, police and other institutions but recognise the limitations they have for addressing all the issues and so aim to play a more proactive role as 'concerned citizens' instead of 'apathetic complainers'.

Watch out for our Resource Guide & Directory- Advertiser-supported all-local magazine featuring directories of the local food system (growers, producers, restaurants, organizations) and locally-owned independent businesses, along with inspiring and educational articles by local writers

Given the potential disruptions ahead resulting from possible political, climate or inflation crises....
Resilient Communities (self-reliant for the greatest possible number of their needs) will be infinitely better prepared than those who are dependent on globalized systems for food, energy, transportation, health, and housing.