Work has commenced on the Kouga Wind Farm Community Development Trust’s R1.75-milllion pedestrian pathway between Sea Vista and St Francis Bay.
Aside from making the daily commute safer for residents, the initiative is also helping to upskill local women, thanks to a community art project.
“The need for a pathway was identified at a police sector meeting where problems with the existing pathway were highlighted,” explains project manager Nigel Aitken.
“It was dangerous, not only because people were being mugged, but also because the path gets muddy when it rains and people slip.
“Once we had the go-ahead, we wanted to get the community involved. We considered murals but there are no municipal boundary walls along the pathway to paint, so we opted instead to invite children from all local schools to enter an art competition, with the idea of using the art works as a basis for mosaics.”
Nigel says they were thrilled to receive more than 200 entries from tiny tots to high school children. The selected artworks are being converted into long-lasting mosaic tile designs, which will be placed along the pathway for all – including the young artists – to see and enjoy.
Keeping the community spirit going, a number of women from Sea Vista were identified to take part in the project and are now being taught to create the colourful mosaics under the watchful eye of Turkish artist Burcu Cunneen.
While work on the mosaics continues, the tender for clearing the site has been awarded and the new pathway, in all its artistic glory, should be ready for use in time for the 2019 summer season.