Delivering to the Daweti and Lufele Families

We have almost completed our delivery to the twenty families in Mbekweni township. This week we delivered to two more:

The Daweti family did not have space for all five beds, so we gave them the three-bed version. They were immediately thrilled! There are a lot of people living in this three-room home, so the impact of the beds is immediately felt.

At this house we also did some design work- removing an unnecessary internal wall. This has opened up the kitchen/lounge, creating a lighter and more spacious room. Design and renovation work is something we want to increase at Shoebox.

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The second home, the Lufele family, also received the three-bed version. The beds neatly fit in their second bedroom, which used to have only one single bed. We have thus increased the sleeping space by 4-fold, a huge impact for this lovely family.

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Delivering to Bathandwa Children's Home

Last week we delivered two bunk beds to Bathandwa, a children's home in Khayelitsha (about one hour outside of Cape Town). The two beds, sponsored by a gentleman in Canada, have replaced 5 rickety old bunk beds that were literally falling apart.

The new mattresses that come with the beds have replaced spoiled and thin mattresses that the children used to sleep on.

The beds have also doubled the play area in the room - a vital need for children, especially in wet winter days.

Bathandwa's staff have expressed enormous thanks. They have shared the positive impact that the beds have made on the lives of the children and on the home as a whole. This whole experience has been very fulfilling! Here are the before and after pics:

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Focus On: Sam Adams

Sam Adams is the Project Manager at Shoebox Homes. He is responsible for managing the manufacturing of the Nested Bunk Bed, the delivery to end users, and all the nitty-gritty responsibilities along the way!

Sam has added significantly to the organisation since his arrival in April. His management skills have greatly increased the output and successful activities of Shoebox. Here's a picture of Sam at our storeroom in Woodstock.

Delivering this week - Tete and Mtini

This week we delivered to four different homes! It's been a full week! We started on Tuesday, with two beds in Mbekweni: for the Tete and Mtini families. Here are the before and after shots from Mbekweni. I will write up the other deliveries in their own post

Mrs Tete asked for three beds in one room and for two to go in the other. I think it works very well. It's great to have a product that is flexible enough to do this.

Before and after at Mtini's

Focus On: Charles Maisel

Charles Maisel is the brains behind Shoebox Homes. It was his idea of providing space-saving furniture and design solutions to disadvantaged communities that led to the birth of Shoebox.

Charles is a well known and award-winning Social Entrepreneur. He likes to be called a 'Serial Social Entrepreneur'. Shoebox Homes is just one of many projects that Charles has either successfully started, or is currently developing. He is an exciting man to be around, full of energy, dynamism, and contagious creativity!

He is part of the prestigious Ashoka Fellowship. Click here to read more.

Website Updated

Today we revamped the content of our main site. It has a rotating photo slide show of all the latest pics, details of those requesting the beds, and lots of other news and info.

Please take a look at www.shoeboxhomes.co.za

Delivering to Sive Nathi

Today was a special day. We built two of the Nested Bunk Beds at a children's home in Black Heath, Cape Town.

The home is called Sive Nathi. Lorraine and her team of care-givers look after a large number of disabled children. I was humbled by the faithful and generous love that they give to the children.

Here's a picture of each bed. What a privilege to be involved in a job where I get to meet people of such high calibre, serving those in need with great joy and commitment!

To Sive Nathi, we hope the beds serve you and the children with more comfort, safety, and space in your special home.

Focus on: Aram Lello

Today's post is focussing on one of our team members - Aram Lello. Aram is an architect at DHK and is based in Cape Town. He is on the board of Shoebox Homes and has been intrinsically involved with our organisation right from the beginning.

One of Aram's key inputs to Shoebox Homes was his winning entry to the 36 sq/m challenge (the competition looked for innovative space-saving design solutions to 36sq/m low-cost housing).

His 'Mobile Space' concept consists of a movable wall, that runs on ceiling rails and floor wheels. The wall divides a bedroom and a living area, allowing each space to be used flexibly, as required by the home owner.



The wall also contains cupboards and a murphy-type bed that folds down when needed. See the following pics:




In fact, the whole house was revamped as part of the competition.

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Woodform Factory - Staff

Here's a few pics of the great staff over at Woodform/Simco. These are the guys responsible for manufacturing the Nested Bunk Bed.

Hilton and Leanne:


Dom with the CDC machine:


Loading at the factory: