By Dr Renate Volpe

We made the decision to leave our home and move into a complex a couple of years ago. We are delighted with our decision. Any fears we had about being too close to our neighbors, people interfering and problems with noise levels, fortunately never materialized.

In fact the exact opposite occurred.

We could literally go for months at a time without setting eyes on our neighbors. Our management board does a fine job, yet the AGM meetings and the rare social occasions held by the AGM were poorly attended. The children were the only ones to mingle and ride bikes together, in the afternoons or visit one another’s homes.

Over time I became aware of a few things: Firstly, that people were asking for better communication in the complex around issues of common concern. Secondly, that security is often compromised by an element of crime which establishes itself from within the complex. Thirdly, that our complex had become soulless. Families or individuals could be going through the most intense trauma, and no helping hand would be extended.

For me the final straw came in two forms. One, when I heard from a colleague in the complex that my own neighbor was going overseas, and that their home would stand empty and unattended for an extended period of time. Two, when we were plagued by barking dogs, only to discover that a house adjacent to ours, in a neighboring complex had been vacated, with the dogs being left behind.

These two separate occurrences finally convinced me that somehow, some type of neighborhood sprit had to be established in our complex. At that point I realized that it would be up to me to do so.

Together with a colleague in the complex we split the complex of twenty five into five clusters of units. We then set aside one week wherein we held five evening meetings which were scheduled to run from six thirty to seven.

I chose the name: Adopt a Neighbor Initiative, and sent out a letter to each home owner in the complex. The letter was handed out by the security personnel directly to each unit owner.

In the letter I stated that the purpose of the forum was to:

• Enhance security.
• Support one another.
• Look after each others properties.
• Communicate concerns directly and constructively (e.g. children, dogs, parking).
• Discuss in a resolution focused manner common agendas concerning the complex or the suburb.
• Offer assistance in time of trauma.
• An annual get together.

(*At no time was this forum intended to duplicate or take over duties of the management board, other than to enhance communications between the board and the complex members.) A questionnaire was enclosed requesting updated information such as telephone numbers, e mail addresses etc and respondents were asked to indicate whether they would be interested in supporting such an initiative.

I expected no more than a thirty percent (if that) response rate to the initiative.

Although only fifty percent of the questionnaires were returned it was both rewarding and amazing to see the each and every evening meeting resulted in a ninety percent attendance rate. Welcomes were warm, name labels were given, coffee, tea and cool drinks and biscuits were offered. Working together my colleague and I kept the meeting friendly, focused and pertinent.

• Introductions were made.
• The purpose of the initiative was clarified.
• Concerns, news and opinions were expressed.
• Contact details were confirmed ( to be distributed).
• Each cluster selected a convener who would set up, half hour meetings once every three months.

The reaction was overwhelmingly positive: in the words of one neighbor: “Of course it’s good to socialize, but you have hit on a common nerve, we all have a need to feel more secure. Remember; “a little gesture of care, goes a long way, to restoring faith in the human spirit.” So go out there and “Adopt your neighbor!”