Butterfly House, is an independent NGO, operating in the Drakenstein sub-district, is a community resource centre which aims to address the needs of children and youth, with an expectation of living, infected and affected by life threatening illnesses and / or life-limiting conditions.  We address the challenges of poor education and nutrition, rampant crime, sexual, physical, emotional and drug abuse, poverty, neglect and lack of role appropriate models through our programmes and activities so that our children may effectively participate in a future healthy life and embrace optimal living.

​

Providing comprehensive Cultural Support Programs and Activities in an economically disadvantaged community

​

We see culture as that which is meaning making for an individual, family or group.  Culture is conveyed through activities, relationships and interactions, which define individual, family and community values and ways of living.  We aim to celebrate and acknowledge that which is good, sacred and traditional within the cultural diversity of the youth and children in our programmes.  Our aim is also to expose youth to different or alternative cultural and behavioural attitudes and ways of being which could be utilised to build on community transformation towards achieving a healthy, hopeful future out of poverty.

​

Cultural diversity and social cohesion is celebrated at Butterfly House, where our motto is: doing care in the community, by the community, with the community… No end to hope.  We are situated in the community we serve and employ the community as our cultural consultants and our volunteers (local and international) and staff provide access to diverse experiences and thinking; the building blocks of societal transformation.

 

Holistic approach

​

Effective community or societal transformation strategies should impact on every aspect of the individual but also every aspect of the community.  This includes e.g. physical (health and the environment), social (relationships and safety), emotional (self-worth and community support), intellectual (academic achievement and civic responsibility), cultural (meaning making, religion, race, heritage) and spiritual (quality of life and living).

​

​