With the stirrings of a new season slowly being felt in Cape Town, one Bo-Kaap based establishment is heralding the arrival of Spring by taking small steps to empower and educate members of the local community.
Dutch Manor Antique Hotel, one of the city's most unique destinations, has become increasingly involved in the area since it took up residence in upper Buitengracht Street in November 2009, and has long placed focus on the betterment of the Bo-Kaap, serving as a flagship for renewed interest in Cape Malay culture and heritage.
“Dutch Manor Hotel was always envisioned as a driver of development in the Bo-Kaap area,” explains Yanic Smit, the hotel's general manager. “We're incredibly passionate about the area and everything it represents, and our aim was always to use our fortunate position to give back to the community, and get everyone as excited about the Bo-Kaap as we are.”
The hotel's first project came about by chance, with Smit taking a personal interest in one of the area's vagrants, Cyril Johnson. “I've always tried to help the guys who sleep on the streets in the nearby areas wherever possible, but Cyril really stood out for me, and demonstrated a real enthusiasm and desire to better himself,” says Smit. “He really wanted to work and make something of his life, so we decided to give him the opportunity to do so.”
Smit decided that the best solution would be to provide Johnson with a means of acquiring income, and enrolled him in a tour guide course with Alive PTL, a THETA-accredited training provider, which is able to train tourist guides for National Certificate Level 2. “Cyril has lived on the Bo-Kaap's streets for over 15 years, and is incredibly well placed to show people the area. Not only is he incredibly knowledgeable, but very engaging, and it seemed like the perfect fit, and a great way to empower him to earn his own living,” says Smit.
Johnson enrolled in the course in June, and, by September, will be a fully accredited tour guide, conducting exclusive Bo-Kaap excursions for tourists using the city's ubiquitous sightseeing buses, which stop just outside the hotel. The Bo-Kaap Cultural and Heritage Gateway, an NGO with whom Dutch Manor works closely, will also provide Johnson with training, supplying him with extensive information about the area and its many cultural landmarks. In addition to his work as a tour guide, Johnson will also be employed by Dutch Manor Hotel in a part-time capacity, taking responsibility for maintenance of the hotel's exteriors. Johnson tears up when asked what this opportunity means going forward. “To go from the streets to this is just amazing - I'm so grateful for the opportunity to work and learn and be able to support myself,” says Johnson.
With the help of Dutch Manor's staff, Johnson was also re-united with his family, and has since moved back in with his sister, who he had not previously seen for over 15 years.
Johnson's rapid rise to self-sufficiency has served as an inspiration for the area's many other vagrants, who have seen the rewards of hard work. “It's been a very positive experience, seeing the ripple effect that can be generated by such a relatively small action,” says Smit. “Our goal with a project like this is to show the broader community that a little hard work can really pay off. Even small-scale endeavours like this can inspire others to take action in their own lives, and we'd like to empower the community to the best of our ability going forward - one step at a time.”