Genadendal (the Valley of Grace) is a small town nestled in the Riviersonderend Mountains in the Western Cape. It inspired former President Nelson Mandela to rename his official residence in Cape Town after it in 1995 and is the oldest mission station in South Africa. During its golden years the town was a hub of home industry activity and is now a tranquil cultural enclave with rich heritage.

Genadendal is a town well known for its "firsts":

• It has the first formally constructed bridge over a major river at the Cape, the Beinbrecht Bridge.
• It was the first industrial town in South Africa and at one time the second largest formal town in the country.
• It hosted the first teachers' training college in South Africa.
• It has the oldest pipe organ in South Africa.
• It has the oldest fire engine in South Africa.
• And the first kindergarten in South Africa was established here.

The Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport had embarked on a project to develop Cultural Tourism in Mission Settlements in 1999. Genadendal, one of these settlements, is well known for its rich cultural history. The department therefore participated in an integrated approach to development and cultural tourism with other departments within the province and nationally, as well as with other roleplayers, including the Moravian Church of South Africa and the community. In addition, the department realised the potential of foreign investment in the development of the settlements, in particular Dutch and German investment because of the close social-cultural historical connections these countries had with South Africa through their missionaries.

"The success of this project could serve as an inspiration and stimulus for other conservation and development projects in South Africa, providing a role model for replication in the rest of the sub-continent."

With the desire to realise this dream of cultural tourism and economic development in Genadendal a funding proposal to the Dutch Government was submitted in May 2001 and was confirmed by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs in July 2001. A partnership of Dutch and South African colleagues currently steered the project through the Technical University of Delft and the Western Cape Cultural Commission.

The general aim of the project was to provide infrastructure for cultural tourism, emphasising the rich heritage that exists within Genadendal. Additionally, the project sought to empower the community at Genadendal. Skills were gained through the restoration process, which could be utilised after the conclusion of the project. The community also ran the businesses derived from the project.

The business proposal to the Dutch Government included the following areas to be addressed:

• a Conservation and development plan for Genadendal
• the development of the social-cultural and economic functions of Genadendal through the upgrading and restoration of historical buildings on the historical kerkwerf and dwellings in the village
• the upgrading of the historical-cultural landscape
• local traditional labour will be utilised in the restoration process, thereby providing practical skills and much-needed employment
• training programmes dealing with the integration of mutual heritage between South Africa and the Netherlands will be developed and presented. These will include workshops, master classes and symposiums involving South African tertiary institutions (in particular, UCT) and Dutch institutions (TU Delft)
• the development and mentoring of crafters in the historical crafts, eg. Herrnhut knives
• skills training in entrepreneurship and business will be undertaken
• small-scale businesses and tourism will be stimulated in the process (guesthouses together with other tourist attractions are planned, for example)
• cultural tourism will be actively marketed to attract tourists to Genadendal.

Lucien le Grange Architects & Urban Planners were appointed as the restoration architects in May 2002 and developed a Conservation and Use Plan, together with proposed drawings for restoration changes to the historical buildings on the werf. A local project team made up of representatives in Genadendal, the architect, the quantity surveyor and the project manager met on a monthly basis to give input into and drive the entire project.

A skills and training needs audit was completed in September 2002. Training for local thatchers was completed in December 2002. Additionally, the training of artisans commenced in August 2003 utillising funds obtained from the Department of Labour. The artisans were utilised in the building/restoration process of the project (all tenders included the need to employ local labour). They will be able to use the skills gained on the project for future employment.

The first phase of work included the urgent re-thatching of roofs and paintwork on the interiors of historical buildings on the werf. Structural work on some of the buildings will form part of the other phases of the project, as will the rehabilitation of historical dwellings in the village.

Some innovations that have been developed through the project are:

• Community participation in the project from its commencement has been key to the successful planning and implementation.
• An integrated approach as far as possible to the development of the project was adopted - a number of roleplayers provide a variety of resources that aids towards the success of the project.
• Community friendly tender and procurement documentation were drafted.
• A number of the local inhabitants have gained skills through the project and will be able to utilise them after the project's completion.

• Community Empowerment: A holistic approach is needed to empower the local community. The community is fraught with social problems that require urgent addressing.
• Interagency Co-operation: A fully integrated approach is required to obtain a holistic and meaningful difference in Genadendal. This requires as many governmental departments and private partners working together to provide input into the town;
• Funding: Further funding is required to complete the project.

Hannetjie du Preez
Project Director
Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport
Tel: 021 483 9508
Fax: 021 483 9509
hdupreez@pgwc.gov.za