How Food Started a Movement for Change: The Story of The Valley Collaborative

In the Lynedoch Valley, food is more than sustenance—it’s a conversation starter that bridges divides in a community marked by inequality. The essence of being South African is rooted in the diversity of our country. Diversity in cultures, languages, traditions and ways of being. This diversity can be both dangerous and beautiful, depending on how we engage with one another. The Lynedoch Valley, which consists of the Vlottenburg, Vlaeberg and Lynedoch communities, is situated on the outskirts of Stellenbosch. Like much of South Africa, the Valley has beauty in its diversity but is also reflective of high levels of inequality. Luxury housing estates and serene farmland are surrounded by communities living in difficult circumstances.  Some residents rarely worry about where their next meal comes from, others go to bed hungry on a regular basis. One of the things that unites people is the fact that no matter what, each and every one of us needs to eat. This is a story about how a small group of people concerned about their neighbours going to bed hungry is growing into a community that is able to take collective action for a safer, healthier, economically active and socially cohesive community.

Food relief is not a long term solution to food insecurity, but it is a conversation starter. During the Covid-19 pandemic, a collective from the community identified a number of vulnerable families in Lynedoch and Vlottenburg, and the group came together to help with food security and emergency healthcare relief. A community committee, in close collaboration with local NGOs, schools, farms and businesses, was formed to further understand the problems that the community faces and ways to make a change. In Vlottenburg, a community kitchen was established which united diverse residents from different skin colours and social classes to work together to provide cooked meals on Sundays to families in need. Arts and recreation programs, church leaders, ward committee members, local NGO’s and other community kitchens joined the conversation.

Over time, the committee evolved into a group of over 20 individuals from different stakeholders in the area, united by a passion for seeing positive change in their communities. Areas of concern grew from food security to education, youth unemployment, physical and mental health, art and recreational activities and more. In 2023, the community committee was renamed as the Valley Collaborative and with guidance from Ranyaka Community Transformation, started a formal process to map the needs, strengths and desires of the Valley communities.  Ranyaka has over a decade of experience in working with communities all across South Africa. The organisation strives to “activate communities to self-organise around a common agenda”. To do this they help identify and empower local change agents to design, lead and implement solutions to the problems that the community faces.

If it’s to be it’s up to all of us

In a recent interaction with an action group that formed through 7 community kitchens in the area, the group spoke about the idea of putting up a container that can be used as a shared kitchen because there is a lack of community facilities in Vlottenburg. Currently, the leaders of community kitchens cook from their own homes in the community, but the group felt that they can make a bigger impact if they can cook together under one roof. This can also open up the possibility for other community members to help with cooking. Crime is a concern in the area and someone asked the question of how the group can make sure that people won’t steal from the kitchen or put graffiti on the walls. The solution was clear: the community must have ownership and be proud of the kitchen. Everyone agreed that security will not be an issue if people are part of the process. 

Change in the Valley doesn’t happen by accident—it’s driven by the hands and hearts of those willing to act. Whether it’s sharing a meal, planting a seed, or sitting side by side to discuss solutions, the responsibility for a stronger, more united community rests on all of us. If real change is to happen, it’s up to all of us to make it a reality.

By Irma Faul