Philippi Village – one of Cape Town’s most renowned multi-use hubs in the heart of Philippi – was proud and honoured to host Belgian royalty, Majesties King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, on Sunday, 26 March 2023. They rolled out the red carpet as they welcomed the Royal family – whose milestone visit formed part of their five-day State trip to South Africa to bolster ties between the two nations and strengthen economic opportunities.
During the visit to Philippi Village, the King and Queen officially re-opened a fully revamped 11 a-side football field following donations from the Belgian Chamber of Commerce. The Royals also unveiled a mural painted on a series of communal workspace-converted containers, which forms part of the new Philippi Village Sports Hub. This was well received by the community who had gathered in numbers to catch a glimpse of the Royal entourage.
Philippi Village is an integrated community development hub that is home to a diverse group of entrepreneurs, small business owners and community-centred activities. The cutting-edge facility is fully connected with high-speed internet and hosts retail, office, and event spaces as well as sporting, educational and cultural facilities. These include an amphitheatre, fully equipped classrooms, a skate park, a veggie farm, a pop-up community cinema and sound studio, as well as a running and bike track.
The hub is regarded as a business catalyst for surrounding communities in the Cape Flats area. Their primary focus is to provide a safe, collaborative workspace that creates employment opportunities and upskills the community. Philippi Village is also home to a state-of-the-art film studio that caters for photoshoots and film production for national and international clients. Among the many renowned movies that have been filmed or partially filmed, there include Maze Runner, Resident Evil and Nkululeko.
During the visit, the Royals did a walkabout through the hub and were thrilled to watch a play at the local children’s theatre. It was clear why Philippi Village was an important stop on their busy agenda.
“Our mission is to co-create a safe and vibrant space that connects the Philippi community to services, employment, educational opportunities, and activities. Philippi Village aims to strengthen the connections between people, the places they share, and the potential opportunities that exist,” said Bushra Razack, Chief Executive Officer of Philippi Village.
“Cross-sector partnerships and connections are helping us elevate our work at Philippi Village as it connects international support to local needs and solutions. We are excited to see how these connections between nations create economic impact and promote cultural exchange.”
The Royal family also opened an office for a non-profit organisation, Close the Gap, which has been instrumental in promoting access to technology for local women and intensifying digital literacy programmes for young girls. Close the Gap is a Belgian social enterprise that aims to bridge the digital divide by providing high-quality recycled and refurbished IT devices donated by European companies to educational, medical, and social projects in developing and emerging countries.
To this end, Philippi Village in partnership with Close the Gap and the non-profit organisation Women in Tech announced the donation of three laptops to three young girls during the Royal family visit.
“We are pleased to be part of this moment because at the heart of our mission is to support entrepreneurship and help boost digital inclusion worldwide. For these young girls, laptops are more than just tools or resources. It is everything to them because it gives them a chance to one day participate in the global marketplace and help improve the lives of their families and communities,” said Olivier Vanden Eynde, Chief Executive Officer of Close the Gap.
Women in Tech, meanwhile, is a global organisation with a mission to educate, equip and empower five million women and girls by 2030, as part of their aim of reaching the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. The organisation focuses on creating impact through action to build skills and confidence and set women up for success.
“For us, this is a truly momentous occasion because it speaks to our double mission of closing the gender gap and helping women embrace technology. With the necessary skills, women can advance in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM), and reach their dreams,” said Melissa Slaymaker, Global Country Director for Women in Tech.
In conclusion, Razack said the support from the Belgian Chamber of Commerce, Close The Gap International and The Consulate General of Belgium was well-received and had helped bolster a stronger bond among all involved.
Belgium has a long diplomatic history with South Africa and is one of its most important economic partners. South Africa enjoys a healthy trade export with Belgium which includes organic chemicals, diamonds and motor vehicles. Belgian companies are significant investors in the South African economy and are one of the leading sources of inbound tourism from Europe.
