Every second Saturday is Good Hair Day, for dogs at least. In the small Moravian village of Elim, near the southern-most tip of Africa, dogs are given a wash and pamper by local farmer, Andrea Booysen and her helpmate, Belinda Owens. And it’s more than a lick and a promise for these often neglected animals.

Elim houses

It started out in March 2008 as a way to educate people how to care for their animals and since then Andrea has seen an enormous improvement in the animals’ condition. “Sometimes it’s as simple as saying ‘It’s OK to care for your dogs’”, she says. The dogs are brought to a central point in the village where mange, ticks and open wounds are treated. Matted hair is cut away and de-worming medication administered. Belinda keeps the records. Says Andrea “Putting down an animal is not a solution as the owners will just get another one. Sensitising people on how to care for their dogs is the only way.” The success rate is good and those who return, like Rover, a very handsome Boerbul are proof. Slightly undernourished, the only other sign of previous ill health are the remnants of mange scars. Rover’s owner and his son are justifiably proud of their pet. Funds for spay days are being raised as Andrea says there is an explosion of puppies in the village. An animal behaviourist by training, she is planning puppy classes to socialise the dogs to livestock.

There are many layers of encouragement in this kind of help. Firstly, it’s education and therefore enabling, rather than encouraging dependency. Then it’s about self-esteem for people who have well cared for dogs. The psychological scars of apartheid are still lurid amongst many of the so-called “coloured” communities. Of course the dogs benefit too. And then at the deepest level is about a sense of husbandry for the natural world. As we go into an era where man’s responsibility to the natural environment is going cause make or break situations (I’m talking water and food wars, too little for too many fomenting terrorist attacks etc.) an exercise in taking care of “those who cannot speak for themselves” will hopefully engender a less narcissistic, and therefore healthier, attitude. For me, teaching people how to care for their animals is up there with tree-planting initiatives. They are positive on so many levels.

Elim is a story in itself. Established in 1824 as a Moravian Mission it was dedicated to the indigenous people. Through the dark years of apartheid its excellent school attracted the children of surrounding farmers and it was one of very few multi-racial institutions in South Africa. Since the advent of democracy in 1994 Elim has not succumbed to the temptation of opening up to outside political influences and has maintained its municipal independence. This is achieved by the fact that Elim is situated on 7,027 hectares of private land, owned by the Moravian Church. By avoiding becoming a municipality it has averted the mushrooming of low cost housing that has sprung up in similar villages, and by doing so has kept its olde worlde charm. The houses and cottages of Elim are quaint and steeped in history. The population of around 3,000 is predominantly elderly as there is not enough work to keep the youngsters in the village. There may not be much work available but what is, is conducted with immense pride. Elim thatchers are world-renowned and the skills, which are handed down from father to son, are sought internationally. Women are engaged in two areas. The wild flower industry employs many Elimmers as the village is situated in the fynbos belt and the Elim Home is a well-known school for disabled children where children from far and wide are taken care of. No liquor sales are permitted in Elim and the village recently won an award for taking ownership of its self-governing responsibilities. It boasts a primary school, a pre-primary library, an E centre, a post office and a police station. How does the sewage system run, for example? After 1994 the provincial government installed a sewage system for Elim but instead of a municipality (there is none) the Overseers Council manages the maintenance and operation of it.

The annual Church Bazaar is a fund raising event that all Elimmers participate in. Women bake delicacies and sweets and, for a week prior to the big day, they are sold from the homes of the bakers. Then on the big day itself there are cake sales, children’s plays, raffles, a blind auction and general hilarity. The Church hall is the venue and from the outside you see a few cars and people milling around. Take a step inside and it hums with activity and fun. On the floor the business is taking place with everyone buying everyone else’s koeksisters, samoosas and ginger beer. On the stage the children are fishing for prizes in a blow up splash pool and in an annex the men are loudly slapping dominoes down in exuberant play. The old folks sit outside and watch the passing parade and visitors come from far and wide for the big event. The atmosphere in one word: delightful.

Elimmers’ sensibleness and sensibilities are something they can be proud of and with the help of individuals like Andrea Booysen and Belinda Owens much is being achieved. If not already the case, outsiders will wish they were born into this community because that’s the only way you can live here. Otherwise you may get a feeling for this uplifting South African story and gorgeous Overberg village by visiting and staying in the guesthouse.