What We're Doing Here

Three years ago, Richard Mason, Nelly Tom-Bulana and Onwaba Nkayi spent a night in a bewitched forest in South Africa's Eastern Cape.


Richard was researching a novel about a glamorous scoundrel. Nelly and Onwaba were making sure he stayed out of trouble in the homelands of the Xhosa people. All three were struck by how much talent is stifled by lack of training in this part of the world.

The word Lulutho means Opportunity in isiXhosa. It's a name we've given to 50 hectares of land in the Tunga Valley, where we're making opportunities for other people and ourselves.

One day we hope there'll be a farm here, and a centre for enterprise development, and an indigenous forest, and classrooms, and a library, and an HIV clinic, and a pond full of mosquito-eating fish.

At the moment there are twelve tents, two wooden huts, a long-drop toilet, a gorgeous view, and at least one extremely venomous snake.



Welcome to our world.

Text by Richard Mason

Day 5

Day 5 was Mbizo Day! A chance for Team Lulutho to introduce itself to the local communities, and to ask for their help and protection.



With some coaching from Onwaba, Richard learned his opening speech in isiXhosa.



Dancing and singing started the proceedings...



... but there were serious moments too.



Mrs. Mkatshana, first lady of the Village of Mthwaku, showed us her kitchen (a lot nicer than ours) ...



... while Lunga Dyantyi, our Head of Human Resources, made it clear what he expects from Lulutho's employees: honesty, commitment, punctuality, and hard work.



All the excitement was captured on film, and you can watch what happened as soon as we've loaded the clip onto YouTube. (Connection speeds in the Tunga Valley make it unwise to hold your breath, but we're trying.)

Text by Richard Mason

To see more photos from our adventures at Lulutho visit our Flickr at http://www.flickr.com/photos/projectlulutho/sets/

Day 4

By Day 4 we were ready to start clearing and levelling ground for the first semi-permanent tents. We bought them from a company that usually supplies the army and are told they'll last 10 years.



Botanist Wendy and the film crew took today to research the local fauna at Bawu Falls, like this indigenous stapelia tsomoensis insitu.



Our Botanist, Wendy Sanderson-Smith










Wendy's research on the plants was the perfect excuse for our film crew to have a look at Bawu Falls.

Text by Richard Mason

To see more photos from our adventures at Lulutho visit our Flickr at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/projectlulutho/sets/

Day 3

Day 3 began with a meeting at the local Department of Agriculture & Land Affairs, whose support will be vital.



We made posters inviting people to an Mbizo (Big Meeting) at Chief Mkatshana's place, and put them up all over town and in the five neighbouring villages.



Chief Mkatshana (pictured here with botanist Wendy Sanderson-Smith) has been a champion of Project Lulutho from the beginning.







Back at camp, Kik got a bit over-friendly with French camerman Gary - whose trouser pockets seemed to excite him.

Text by Richard Mason

To see more photos from our adventures at Lulutho visit our Flickr at http://www.flickr.com/photos/projectlulutho/sets/

Day 2

For six months, Lindikaya has been living onsite taking care of things.



He planted a vegetable patch and made us our first sign.



In the cool of the day, Onwaba took time out to plan his speech for the Chief's MBizo (big meeting).



And everyone fell in love with Lindikaya's puppy, Kik.

Text by Richard Mason

To see more photos from our adventures at Lulutho visit our Flickr at http://www.flickr.com/photos/projectlulutho/sets/

Day 1

Monday March 7th was Lulutho's official Day 1: the first day of work. In the scorching sun, environmental consultants from Terreco visited camp to give us an expert's view on the Environmental Impact Assessment process.



Richard's father Tony Mason (left), helped us tailor our vision to minimize the bureaucratic hurdles ahead. (Thanks Tony!)

Text by Richard Mason

To see more photos from our adventures at Lulutho visit our Flickr at http://www.flickr.com/photos/projectlulutho/sets/

Day -1

Creative Director Benjamin Morse is looking forward to the day we can dismantle the wooden huts.



But no one can deny the pastoral beauty of the view.



Once we had a place to wash, glamorous French documentary maker Nathalie Gros was visibly happier.



Text by Richard Mason

To see more photos from our adventures at Lulutho visit our Flickr at http://www.flickr.com/photos/projectlulutho/sets/