We are working and investing in a community called Ocean View, where about 40’000 ‚coloured' (a South African term used for those who are not 'black' or 'white') people live. Ocean View was born as a township during Apartheid, built for the forcefully removed colured people from around the area. Ocean View is built on a hillside with a truly lovely view of the ocean! The coloured people are lively, loud, good entertainers and have a love for good music and dance. 

There are though also multiple challenges facing the people here. High unemployment, drugs, crime, prostitution and young people falling out of school are daily issues we encounter. Be believe God is busy doing something special! God is moving here even if it’s not always seen. 

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Unconventional Community

We want to bring hope and perspective to the young people at risk. In 2016 we founded HopeTown, a Youth Community and Youth Movement in Ocean View. We gather with different age and interest groups once a week in our HopeTown Base and eat together, listen to each other and to God and experience a kind of a family what supports each other and where people find a place of belonging. Our family members are not those you would easily find in church. Gang members, teenage mother and fathers, school drop outs and young people who struggle with addiction learn to love each other and are discovering God. Our HopeTown family is diverse, wild and imperfect and hungry for change.

 

We believe that the Holy Spirit is busy changing their hearts from inside out. We believe unconventional love means to accept the fact that the people are on a journey to find true identity. Out of experience we know, this journey is often longer then we hoped for. We invest with a long term perspective and live like we would never leave.

We love this wonderful Hopetown family and we pray for lives filled with passion and purpose for them. We know that healthy life, freedom and healing is only coming through Jesus. 

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HopeTown Student Hub 

We provide a safe space for struggling High Schoolers to learn and grow in their academics. On three afternoons our centre is open to support, encourage and tutor the young people in their homework and help them to achieve better marks. 

We challenge them to grow, train their learning skills, to get a vision for education and qualifications and to help them in finding direction towards their professional future. 

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Art Education 

Every Monday afternoon there are creative vibes in the air. We have a wonderful art teacher coming to invest in this young generation of future artists. Art unlocks potential in a wonderful way and self-confidence grows. There is so much more to come!

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Skills Training 

There is huge unemployment among the young people in Ocean View. Those who have dropped out of school, often have no chance to get a job. We believe this doesn’t need to be the end. We offer internships and train local, young people on the job. Our workshop areas are:

• Screen Printing (T-shirt, Hoodies, bags, kids clothes...)

• Jewellery making (Brass & Copper Jewellery, keyrings)

• Sewing work (bags, aprons, purses)

• Leatherwork (keyrings, wallets, labels, bags)

• Artistry painting (spoons, piggybank, pots...)

We want to see them grow in social skills, work ethics, character, teamwork, quality control, self-confidence and to become more job-ready for their next step in life. 

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HopeTown Horse 

Once a week some of our team takes a group of teenagers to a horse farm in the valley. We teach them how to care for a horse and how to overcome fear and tackle challenges. A horse is an extremely social animal and they model healthy relationships. It’s an amazing opportunity for young people to spend some time outside of Ocean View and to be exposed to animals and beautiful nature. To build up a friendship with a horse or even learn how to ride is a life-changing experience.  

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HopeTown Floorball

Twice a week we play a great game in the community what is called Floorball. We introduced this amazing sport a couple of years ago to the kids and they love it. It is a kind of a street hockey and can be played in the middle of the community. We know that sport is such a great key to reach peoples hearts. Floorball is exciting to play and watch, because of the speed and action during the matches, the quick transitions and the number of possible goals. Our team believes in the nurturing of youths in the development of mind, character and fitness through the game of floorball.

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HopeTown Surf 

Ocean View is very close to the sea and close to one of the best areas to surf in Cape Town. But many young people can not even swim, as there is no training in the Ocean View schools available.

Some of our team train young kids to swim and to lose their fear of the water through fun games and swim & surfing lessons. Our aim is to help them discover new perspective, joy and self-confidence through the surfing adventure. 

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HopeTown Dance

We love to invest in girls and dance is a great tool to reach their hearts. It is not so much about being a good dancer but more to learn to be confident in your body and to love yourself. We help the girls to grow in character and self-respect and allow them to speak about themselves. 

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HopeTown Internship

We love to invest in young people deeply. We’re dedicated to empowering young men and women to put their God-given skills to work and train them on the job. We see the people we serve as individuals created in God’s image, and instead of charity, we offer a training opportunity that affirms their potential as positive influence in the community. Our tools are skills training, character training, serving the community, mentoring and basic leadership training. The internship starts with a three month trial period and can go up to a year. 

The internship can be extended to a second year what is called the "Young Leader Learnership".  This includes more training in leadership and more responsibility in leading different activities and clubs.