“Together we become”

In 1992 the Interchange Foundation combined thirty years of experience in community development and creating social cohesion into a model called the IF-Model. This model has subsequently been refined and adapted to address the deepening socio-economic challenges in South Africa. The IF-Model is the instrument used to fulfil our vision of “Creating Viable and Unified Communities” and has been successfully implemented – albeit only in part – in different communities (e.g. Stellenbosch, Keisie, Hermanus, Genadendal, Montagu, Macassar, and Sir Lowry’s Pass Village). The IF-Model is an integrated, holistic socio-economic community development model that supports the vision and objectives of the National Development Plan (NDP). The model brings the community and people from different backgrounds and specialities together to work in synergy around the shared goal of creating unified and viable communities.

The IF-Model is different from other community development models in that it recognises that the community has informal structures and unique sub-cultures, and everybody in the community forms part of the community, and subsequently it does not discriminate against people suffering or living in poverty. Due to the aforementioned, the model moved away from a one-size-fits all approach, e.g. housing or sport, to a holistic approach in providing community members with a voice, a platform to raise their voices, and a capable audience who will listen and assist in creating the changes they desire. Throughout the process IF develops informal leaders and community members to manage their community through a steering committee to ensure that their voices never become silent. The model also endeavours to empower the community to keep government accountable, but at the same time take responsibility for their lives and destiny. The model allows for all levels of government, private sector and civil society to cooperate and contribute to an environment that is conducive for sustainable, viable and unified communities to develop. Initiatives are selected and prioritised by applying value considerations to find the communities need. Research-based situation analysis forms an integral part of the initial process. The current, most urgent social challenges facing the country as a whole, such as unemployment, homelessness, education, and the aftermath of the Corona Virus remain the primary focal areas.

The Interchange Foundation supports the community building process through programmes presented by like-minded service providers, on either an ad hoc, once-off basis, or as part of longer-term, mutually beneficial agreements. The Foundation also interacts with government and private institutions to generate resources for community building. The Model recognises and emphasises the importance of strong shared ethical values to guide community members in everything they do. The model contains nine (9) core values which are referred to as the IF- Social Action Values Ideology (SAVI). These values are the main ingredients to create cohesion and guide decision-making. Today, these values are still the binding factor or cornerstone when interacting with the role players in every community; it is also an element which is transferred to the community members through everything we do, in order to ensure that community members make SAVI decisions.