This morning I was in Cosmo City to visit with Baha'is who live in the community. The "City" more like a suburb, was planned from scratch by the government with the intent of creating an environment where South Africans of all races of all levels of income from the destitute to the wealthy, can live side by side sharing the same public facilities such as schools and parks. There are 3 main housing sections to Cosmo City; homes that are 100% subsidised (RDP homes) and covering about 32m (square) under roof, those that are partially subsidised covering about 60m (square) and those that are "bonded" or fully privately owned. When the whole suburb is completed, according to reports it will have 12 schools (see picture), clinics, libraries, a police station, 40 churches, sports fields, a public swimming pool, taxi ranks, markets, shopping centres, business nodes, petrol stations and an industrial site on the Kya Sand border. Usually we meet at the home of one of the Baha'is or in one of the many lovely parks. According to the International Marketing Council of South Africa, Cosmo City covers an area of about 1200 hectares and about 15% of the area has been earmarked for parks. The park where we often meet is in Tanzania Road (part of the 100% subsidised area) and it has lovely shaded seating areas, swings and jungle gyms for the children as well as a paved basketball/netball area for the older children. On Saturdays there is a large group of junior youth who gather to learn in creative and artistic ways how to develop and express moral values. This junior youth project was recently shown on television on SABC 1 in a programme called "Spirit Sundae". Regardless of the many social problems that still exist within both the poorer and more wealthy areas of the suburb there is a general positive feeling in the community.

Another project recently launched was the "Best Garden in Cosmo City" competition (http://www.joburg.org.za/content/view/3452/266/). It is very inspiring to see some of the little Edens springing up around the suburb (see picture). Not everyone is intersted in gardening and frankly not everyone is clearly even interested in preserving the piece of land they now own regardless of whether it was given or bought. But seeing the many little Edens that are flourishing reminds me that when any man (men or women) sees value in enhancing his environment great things can be achieved using very little resources. Initiative, compassion, creativity, sense of responsibility and uprightness are attributes that we all possess and can choose to use and have nothing to do with traditional sources of identity from the old South Africa such as wealth, education or race.

Value creation is not a preserve of the few.

e creation is not a preserve of the few.

Gratefully acknowledge the source of the pictures: the City of Johannesburg website in an article written by Emily Visser.