Stories of Hope

COVID-19 Relief fund

CDF WCape’s longstanding work of building assets in local communities was able to not only capitalize, but also maximize the capacity, networking and relationships invested or built to date.
In terms of the COVID19 response, the CDF WCape team identified and worked alongside Community-based Organisations and Civic partners representing communities living in the Cape Metros, families on farms in Cape Winelands as well as fishing villages on the South Coast. These community-based Organizations, led by strong and committed women, provided the frontline response work in low-income and vulnerable communities. )
Having this awareness and intent, the Foundation team felt that money should follow the challenges and must be used for concerns based on the communities’ response to COVID19, hence CDF WCape’s decision to launch COVID19 relief Fund that focused on the following immediate relief:

1. Health and wellbeing: basic supply of food and hygiene essentials.
2. Connectivity, support, and solidarity: data supply for regular video call meetings
with co-investors as well as taxi fare for mobility.
3. Building a strong social compact: by making small community grants CDF WCape
allows communities the agency and power to act in their own interest.
4. Mapping horizontal giving in all its currencies: tracking local giving during the pandemic.
5 A visible and active CDF WCape:  building on reputable capital and trust.

Although the COVID19 Relief Fund was launched within the first few days of the lockdown, CDF WCape still took its cue from the community. It allowed its partners at the coalface to lead the humanitarian response process, leaving it up to them to decide on the most appropriate way of dealing with the issue of food and hunger. In this regard the option of food parcels was not considered and instead community grants became the preferred mode of operations. With dignity and overall wellbeing in mind, this approach was further enhanced by trust, deeply rooted, and built over many years, as well as the Foundation’s strong approach towards listening that build agency, solidarity, and support.