June 15th 2023 marked the opening of Bertha Retreat in its new home, the York site on Boschendal Farm.
Bertha Retreat is a space for activists, lawyers and storytellers – from within and outside the Bertha network – to come together to connect, work, strategize and reflect. From day one, the creation of the space has revolved around how it can serve the needs of the four communities that live in the surrounding area as well as serve as a hub for social justice work.
The Retreat is based in one of the most beautiful and fertile agricultural valleys in South Africa. The history of formal apartheid has meant that often the black and brown people living in the valleys were excluded from these spaces. Overcoming spatial apartheid is an ongoing process and meant that the team intentionally wanted a bigger and bolder offering than merely to create an event and retreat venue. Instead they sought to embody the spirit of “Radical Hospitality”, which means that the people usually excluded from design – including the workers at the site and the people in the Valley – would be included in all aspects of design and ongoing programming. Bertha staff constantly went back to the question of how to center the working class brown and black people from the Valley. From the outset there was also a principle to preserve and acknowledge that the farm was once a beloved home to former farm workers, many of whom remain in the valley.
Bertha Retreat opened with a three-day festival that celebrated the inclusion of these farm workers in the future of the space. On the eve of the festival, the farm worker families were the very first guests invited to stay overnight in the Retreat’s cottages. With their permission each cottage was named after the families that had lived in the space, the naming is intended to acknowledge the families and how the love of their former homes will continue to shape the care that is put into Bertha Retreat. Mrs Nophumzile Baleni shared “Last night I saw one of the cottages named after my family, that made me very happy, because my surname will have some dignity.”
Many of these people are now the elders of the community, and making the time to know their stories is deeply important. From talking about their gardening competitions, to pointing out where children played and where they used to grow food, Bertha Retreat honors their lived experiences.
Where the families’ gardens were is Bertha’s garden; where the children used to play is an open space made for gathering; and where the residents grew food is a food garden that supplies produce to both the Bertha Retreat kitchen and local primary schools.
“We wanted to keep the subtle elements of what used to be here,” said Lerato, Bertha Retreat Director. “We just didn’t want the space to say, ‘Oh, now that we have the Ford Foundation here we can’t have a senior citizen meeting.’ If they want to come in, have tea, talk about a book that they read or have a knitting session – that must go on, regardless of who is on site.”
Bertha Retreat opened with a three-day festival that celebrated the inclusion of these farm workers in the future of the space. On the eve of the festival, the farm worker families were the very first guests invited to stay overnight in the Retreat’s cottages. With their permission each cottage was named after the families that had lived in the space, the naming is intended to acknowledge the families and how the love of their former homes will continue to shape the care that is put into Bertha Retreat. Mrs Nophumzile Baleni shared “Last night I saw one of the cottages named after my family, that made me very happy, because my surname will have some dignity.”
Senior citizens together with former residents of the york farm in the conference area and sharing stories of how life was living on the farm. Credit: Denver Rispel(a local Pniel photographer)
Senior citizens together with former residents of the york farm in the conference area and sharing stories of how life was living on the farm. Credit: Denver Rispel(a local Pniel photographer)
Many of these people are now the elders of the community, and making the time to know their stories is deeply important. From talking about their gardening competitions, to pointing out where children played and where they used to grow food, Bertha Retreat honors their lived experiences.
Where the families’ gardens were is Bertha’s garden; where the children used to play is an open space made for gathering; and where the residents grew food is a food garden that supplies produce to both the Bertha Retreat kitchen and local primary schools.
16 June youth celebration and activities and the Official Opening of the new Space. Credit: Denver Rispel (a local Pniel photographer)
16 June youth celebration and activities and the Official Opening of the new Space. Credit: Denver Rispel (a local Pniel photographer)
“We wanted to keep the subtle elements of what used to be here,” said Lerato, Bertha Retreat Director. “We just didn’t want the space to say, ‘Oh, now that we have the Ford Foundation here we can’t have a senior citizen meeting.’ If they want to come in, have tea, talk about a book that they read or have a knitting session – that must go on, regardless of who is on site.”
For communities to feel welcome, Lerato and her team decided to use soft security measures on site where they can. Some measures they’ve introduced include neighborhood watches, wristbands and natural barriers made from vegetation. “A lot of our people are triggered by security guards, law enforcement and police. This is one of the pieces of feedback we got from most of our community members,” shared Lerato. “For us, security of property is important, but our emphasis is on creating a sense of safety for people and ensuring that our security practices do not criminalize black and brown bodies.”
For communities to feel welcome, Lerato and her team decided to use soft security measures on site where they can. Some measures they’ve introduced include neighborhood watches, wristbands and natural barriers made from vegetation. “A lot of our people are triggered by security guards, law enforcement and police. This is one of the pieces of feedback we got from most of our community members,” shared Lerato. “For us, security of property is important, but our emphasis is on creating a sense of safety for people and ensuring that our security practices do not criminalize black and brown bodies.”
Senior Citizens from Pniel on the 15th June 2023 with Bertha Retreat co-Director Lerato Sitole. Credit: Denver Rispel(a local Pniel photographer)
Senior Citizens from Pniel on the 15th June 2023 with Bertha Retreat co-Director Lerato Sitole. Credit: Denver Rispel(a local Pniel photographer)
One of the main strategies in being responsive to the surrounding communities was the establishment of the ‘Friends of Bertha’ – a committee made up of staff and people from the surrounding valley. Through the Friends of Bertha the team at the Retreat saw the communities asking to use the site for day bookings to hold community meetings, leading to the realization that this was also an offering they could introduce to potential clients to help generate revenue, run the space and support its continued use as a hub for the locals.
Just over a year after opening, the team at Bertha Retreat have watched how the Friends of Bertha have helped get the word out, and how much of a difference working with the community can make when designing a space. The people who were once excluded from the space are now constantly coming to us with new and exciting demands to use the space. “Now we are getting requests every week about using the space from different people for different reasons!” said Lerato. There is huge demand for aerobics classes where locals can also get access to instructor training. Retreat program staff have brought famous jazz dance classes closer to home and made them more easily accessible. Every Tuesday and Thursday there is a serious group of girls who gather to play netball, and the size of the team just keeps growing. Bertha Retreat adapts to what the community is asking for and provides space that is so often unavailable.
One of the main strategies in being responsive to the surrounding communities was the establishment of the ‘Friends of Bertha’ – a committee made up of staff and people from the surrounding valley. Through the Friends of Bertha the team at the Retreat saw the communities asking to use the site for day bookings to hold community meetings, leading to the realization that this was also an offering they could introduce to potential clients to help generate revenue, run the space and support its continued use as a hub for the locals.
Chartered Accountant Sinesipho Mvovo speaking to the learners from the nearby communities on what it takes to study to be a CA and the different careers they can go into. Credit: Denver Rispel(a local Pniel photographer)
Chartered Accountant Sinesipho Mvovo speaking to the learners from the nearby communities on what it takes to study to be a CA and the different careers they can go into. Credit: Denver Rispel(a local Pniel photographer)
Just over a year after opening, the team at Bertha Retreat have watched how the Friends of Bertha have helped get the word out, and how much of a difference working with the community can make when designing a space. The people who were once excluded from the space are now constantly coming to us with new and exciting demands to use the space. “Now we are getting requests every week about using the space from different people for different reasons!” said Lerato. There is huge demand for aerobics classes where locals can also get access to instructor training. Retreat program staff have brought famous jazz dance classes closer to home and made them more easily accessible. Every Tuesday and Thursday there is a serious group of girls who gather to play netball, and the size of the team just keeps growing. Bertha Retreat adapts to what the community is asking for and provides space that is so often unavailable.
24 September 2023, Heritage Day Color run with Youth from the Dwars river valley. Credit: Ayanda Ndamane
24 September 2023, Heritage Day Color run with Youth from the Dwars river valley. Credit: Ayanda Ndamane
By including the local community in the intentionality of the space, the team at Bertha Retreat have learned which specific programs will contribute to the development of the local communities while in turn strengthening their own organization.
“I swear, I have never actually seen a plan on paper come out almost as real, or even better,” said Lerato, reflecting on The Retreat’s development. “Everyday, I’m just like ‘wow’... It’s crazy, it’s a lot of work, but it's fun.”
For any questions or enquiries about Bertha Retreat please contact, lerato@berthaspaces.org.
By including the local community in the intentionality of the space, the team at Bertha Retreat have learned which specific programs will contribute to the development of the local communities while in turn strengthening their own organization.
“I swear, I have never actually seen a plan on paper come out almost as real, or even better,” said Lerato, reflecting on The Retreat’s development. “Everyday, I’m just like ‘wow’... It’s crazy, it’s a lot of work, but it's fun.”
For any questions or enquiries about Bertha Retreat please contact, lerato@berthaspaces.org.
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