Building a Water‑Justice Toolkit Together in Cape Town

In Johannesburg, the legacy of colonial and apartheid rule still shows up in who gets clean water and safe toilets. Outlying neighborhoods often have weaker pipes and fewer public bathrooms, a symptom of deeper inequities that go beyond water itself.

The Root Causes

• Historical injustice: Old rules from colonial times and apartheid
• Economic disparity: Unequal funding for infrastructure
• Housing & gender issues: Women face greater risk of violence and lack safe spaces
• Land disputes, racism & LGBTQ+ marginalization: All intersect to block reliable access

These intertwined problems keep many from having dependable, clean water.

A New Approach: The Inter‑Movement Toolkit

A coalition of activists—water rights, women’s rights, housing rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and racial justice advocates—took a bold step. They created a modular toolkit that:

1. Brings movements together
   • Joint workshops, focus groups, and walking interviews filmed on the ground
2. Encourages community storytelling
   • Discussion sheets, art projects, songs, and role‑play games
3. Amplifies unheard voices
   • Short film “Its Ebbs and Flows”—multilingual footage of real people’s water struggles

The result is a set of tools that educate about layered injustices, foster cross‑movement friendships, and push for tangible change.

Why It Matters

• Community‑driven health programs: Art and local knowledge make interventions more relevant
• Trust in decision‑making: The toolkit highlights who should be listened to when shaping solutions
• Scalable model: Adaptable for other regions facing climate‑induced water shortages

The toolkit offers a practical template for communities worldwide, turning complex problems into collaborative action.