Dreamcatcher Home Office 2008-2022 - Dreamcatcher South Africa NPC

Dreamcatcher Home Office 2008-2022

Overview

In early 2008 at the request of the wider community, the church wardens of St Augustine’s church and with the blessing of the George Anglican Diocese, Dreamcatcher accepted custodianship of the old rectory on the grounds of the historical St Augustine’s church in Melkhoutfontein. The building was completely abandoned and dilapidated. Over time the building was transformed into our sustainable futures centre to plan and deliver work in the local community and beyond. This included completely upgrading the building, installation of new windows and security, fencing off the grounds, extending the building, and going completely off grid being powered by solar and running from rainwater.

Alongside this we transformed the surrounding grounds, which were covered in invasive species and had been used as a dumpsite, into a botanical garden, and we also refurbished the historical St Augustine’s church built in 1908.

Impact

For over a decade the home office was our loving home which fulfilled many functions including:

The Home Office evolved into an important place of learning and skills transfer in the community. Overtime we formally took over the lease of the building – and in 2022 we were informed by St Augustine’s church that our lease would not be renewed. On 1^st January 2023, after 15 years of investment and hard work by the community, international visitors and the Dreamcatcher team, we left. Whilst currently working from a temporary base, we are as busy as ever whilst developing plans for our new home. You can explore how we transformed the building to serve the greater community across all ages in the gallery below.

2008 July - what we inherited from the church - a completely abandoned shell of a building

A mould infested and dirty kitchen

From the back- a braai area open to the elements with no roof

Back elevation - lacking windows!

View from the wandelpad

From the end of 2008 TO beginning 2009 we busily refurbished the entire building. This included gutting the building, tiling, and painting......

...we added a double garage as a multi-functional space......

....over the years this included a training room, space for the Dreamcatcher Kids, and a workshop

Side elevation from April 2009

April 2009 - Official opening with community leaders and Kamammas from across the country attending

May 2009 - Dreamcatcher enterprises and collaborators from across the country meeting at the Home Office. Sadly some have now deceased, retired or moved on - but many are still involved

In 2010 we block paved the front of the Home Office

The Home Office had a solar geyser installed for hot water, and by the time we left at the end of 2022 the Home Office was completely off grid relying solely on solar power

The Home Office had rain water harvesting tanks - we installed multi tanks on site. By the end of our tenure we were not connected to the mains and were self sufficient

The Home Office was the epicenter of our development work in the community and further afield. Anthea working in the office November 2011

Over the next decade the Home Office was used for multiple training and networking events

For example the double garage was used as a training room - in March 2010 we delivered waste waste training in the community to raise awareness of waste issues

We would regularly bring together Dreamcatcher enterprises to discuss issues and sharing ideas - image from the Dreamcatcher annual get together April 2011

The Home Office was also the base for us to work with local youth - Anthea with the Dreamcatcher Kids April 2011

It was a safe space for local youth to play......

The Home Office was used as a space for many international volunteers to work youth helping develop reading, language skills and learning about other countries. UK volunteers Lynne and David in April 2013

...and to learn

It was a space for skills transfer - for example Yellow the Wireman teaching the Dreamcatcher Kids how to make wire cars in September 2015

The garage also doubled up as a cinema 🙂

The kitchen was completely refurbished and used to prepare food for the Dreamcatcher Kids and hosted many Cook-Ups .......

.....including with our then Dutch ambassador Karin Bloemen and family (April 2014) - thanks to Karin for all the amazing support

As part of the 'Cook-Up with Kamamma' experience visitors would pick fresh food from the Dreamcatcher garden to prepare their meal with a Kamamma. Check out the pumpkins ripening on the roof 😉

We added a roof to the open braai room where Cook-Ups were hosted plus a range of other activities. However it was still open to the elements.....

.....thanks to a donation from the Woodard family windows and a door were added meaning the space could be used all year round including when working with local youth...

....hosting events such as the evening function for the launch of the La Bloemen and Paint Up with Kamamma projects....

...which included welcomingthen Dutch Ambassador to South Africa Marisa Gerardsat the launch of La Bloemen and Paint Up with Kamamma - picture with Kamamma Lorraine.....

....and another space for training.

2016 October - we installed an outer gate as park of our work to improve security around the historical church grounds

The front stoop was a great place to work but was open to the wind and elements. In March 2017 we started preparing for windows to be added

Koos installing windows on the front stoop

Front stoop now with enclosed wall and window providing shelter from the wind and rain - January 2018

We get lots of friendly visitors....

....including tortoises

Welcoming a delegation from the Anglican Church in March 2017

From 2018 up until the pandemic, the Home Office also doubled up as a pilot workshop for the 'Made In Melkhoutfontein' project with enterprises making crafts from available materials including waste

In 2022 we were informed by St Augustine's church that our lease would not be extended. We left at the end of 2022 leaving the Home Office in pristine condition (we have a lot more photos showing how we left it 😉 ) - with multiple additions to the dilapidated building we took over

Kitchen - how we inherited it in 2008 (left) - how we left in 2022 (right)

Braai room - how we inherited it in 2008 (left) - how we left in 2022 (right)

Dreamcatcher South Africa NPC is a legally registered non profit entity in South Africa NPC Reg No: 2019/142532/08

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