PaintUp with Kamamma™ is an innovative project developed by Dreamcatcher in collaboration with the community of Melkhoutfontein to celebrate the rich cultural heritage of the area. A series of murals beautify houses to tell stories, depict social history, and reawaken the cultural significance of the area.

Launched in 2016 by the then Dutch Ambassador to South Africa Marisa Gerards and then Dreamcatcher Ambassador Dutch celebrity Karin Bloemen, over 30 houses have been designed and painted by artists collaborating with the community. Themes vary from the nearby Blombos cave (home to the earliest evidence of humankind as artists), the world famous fish traps, local fauna and flora, and social history. You can find out more information on each design from the links below. You can also attend WalkAbout™ community tours where community guides tell the stories behind the designs. In addition many other houses have now been painted with paint donated through the project.

Due to Covid the project was suspended as we focused on reallocating resources to support communities throughout the pandemic. Due to the popularity and positive impact of PaintUp with Kamamma we resumed the project post-pandemic phase in 2024. Some of the original murals are no longer in place for a variety of reasons including the original home owner either passing away or moving, and house extensions where the mural was painted.

In September and October 2024 we painted five new murals – including the first in the new housing development in Melkhoutfontein – and spent some time assessing existing murals for repairs. Find out more about each design below.