“My work with Rooftops Canada has been some of the most exciting and rewarding work of my career in social housing and community development. In August 1995, I arrived in Cape Town on a two-year placement to work with a local NGO, Umzamo. It was driving the redevelopment of the apartheid-era dormitory hostels into decent family homes. Two years became five and by the end, the redevelopment partnership of hostel residents, local and provincial government was well underway. Now, the conversion of Cape Town’s public hostels is almost complete. Over 13,000 families have decent, affordable homes!
After the Umzamo placement, I returned to South Africa almost every year for a few weeks to several months, first as a technical advisor and since retirement, as a volunteer. I have worked with local government, social housing institutions, and most recently with the Development Action Group in Cape Town where I have been involved in social and transitional housing projects in communities where local residents are in danger of displacement by rapid gentrification.” - Jim Duke
