Bulembu

Some years ago a wealthy German businessman came across a village in the poverty-stricken African country of Swaziland that captured his interest. Formerly an important mining town; it was now abandoned, mine closed, population scattered, buildings left vacant. Rampant disease added to the devastation. Where others saw only a ghost town, he saw a profitable opportunity. He set about buying up the entire town, opening an upscale tourist lodge, and developing a series of businesses with confidence that in time there could be great returns; not of personal profit but of a better life for the local people.At one level this may appear to be just another story of typical Colonialism. In this case it is quite different. The village of Bulembu is being developed not to produce additional wealth for rich Westerners, but to bring new hope to people for whom life is stunningly difficult. Nearly half the population have AIDS, orphans are everywhere, and industry is nearly nonexistent. Yet by 2020 Bulembu is expected to be a community that is economically, environmentally, and socially sustainable. It is an audacious dream, but the early results are promising.It is a unique situation; unlikely to be replicated elsewhere. The leadership challenges are significant. And I, for one, am eager to watch it all unfold.Check out Bulembu.