Horizon Farm Trust Home For Intellectually Impaired Adults

General information

In January 2004 Horizon Farm Trust took occupation of a 30-acre farm in Shongweni, The property had been unoccupied for some ten years and the land was completely overgrown – mainly with invasive bush. Five buildings had been stripped of roofing, windows, doors and piping and the state of the surrounding land was:

A jungle of invasive vegetation – approx 2 to 3 metres in height – growing right up to the walls.
Earth slides from the hill above up to rear retaining walls, which themselves cracking as a result of the growth of tree roots.
Soil erosion from storm water.

1. Restoration of the Main House

Volunteer workers, housed in caravans and cabins, commenced the clearing of the “jungle” surrounding the main residence and through hard work together with visiting volunteer groups and intermittent casual labour we now have a situation where:

All bush is cleared away from house, close proximity trees felled, dongas filled and driveway leveled and “graveled”.
The main building has been re-built.
Kitchen and dining area/lounge have been fitted out with basic equipment.

The house has eight bedrooms, a large kitchen and scullery, lounge and dining room. In addition to three bathrooms, a separate unit – bedroom, kitchenette and bathroom is available for caregivers. (The floor area of the house exceeds 500 square metres).

2. Development of Infrastructure

The farm infrastructure has been extensively developed during the past two years. To date we have:

Graded portions of the driveways and added decomposed granite to improve surface and drainage.
Established a water supply from existing wells and are presently restoring the reservoir which will be used to hold water pumped from the river.
Completed a wooden “Boma” on the banks of the dam, which is being used as a camping venue for visiting groups of youngsters.
Completed the campsite ablution block with wheelchair accessible showers and toilets.
Installed solar panels for the lighting of the Boma and ablution block.
Constructed a wooden suspension bridge over the wetland adjacent to the Boma.
Established a 600sqm vegetable garden.
Established an Indigenous Nursery with a stock of over 10 000 plants in various stages of growth.
Cleared a site for the “Village” and completed the structure of the core building consisting of a lounge, kitchen and 2 bathrooms – including a water supply & solar geyser.Completed the construction of the first 6 wooden cabins for “villagers”.
Cleared the sites for the refurbishing of two other houses on the farm which will be used for the accommodation of additional volunteers & staff.
Built three paddocks, and established a small base of livestock (namely chickens, geese, turkeys, goats and pigs).
Set up catch boxes, and established 5 beehives as the first phase of our Bee- Keeping programme.
Completed construction of a 120 square meter Activity and Therapy Centre adjacent to the main house.

3. Development Of Services

The Trust is constituted to provide the following services:
1.Long-term accommodation and meaningful occupation/assisted employment for adults who are mentally handicapped.
2.Outdoor programmes for youth-at-risk.

We have come to understand that mentally handicapped clients are likely to fall into one of two categories:
1.Those requiring assisted living in the form of residential care.
2.Those who are able to live relatively independently but who require daily structure and supervision.

This inspired us to initiate the building of the “Village Green” – an area above the main residence, which will house the low-care “Villagers” separately from the relatively high-need residents of the main house, and offer some families a less costly option for placement. The Villagers have already moved to their new site and the first residents have moved into the main house.