TBT: Middle-class family journey into a different lifestyle
"The people we will live alongside for a month have far greater faith than we do in living a daily life of vulnerability. They have far greater entrepreneurial ability than we do to live on the poverty line," said Julian Hewitt
Have you heard about the Hewitt family?
Julian and Ena Hewitt made headlines back in 2013 when they announced their bold decision to leave their comfortable home in Pretoria and live in Mamelodi for a month.
Their choice sparked plenty of confusion and backlash online, with many questioning their motives and criticising them harshly.
Despite the criticism, the Hewitts stuck to their plan and moved in next door to their domestic helper, Leah, for 30 days.
Before making the move, they shared their plans publicly and admitted that their families weren’t thrilled, especially after learning that the couple would be taking their two young daughters with them.
According to the Hewitts, their decision was deeply rooted in their faith.
Julian wrote the following on their Mamelodi for a Month blog, "Ena and I are Christian, and this is what frames our month in Mamelodi. It is a journey about embracing Christian values far removed from the comfort of our daily middle-class comforts.
"You might call us neo-monastics for want of a fancy description. God does not reside in a church. He is here and now. While it is easy to be a Christian on Sunday morning from 9h00 to 10h30, living Christian values on a Monday morning when life happens that counts."
For the Hewitts, this wasn’t some big social experiment. It was a personal step toward understanding how many South Africans live – something they felt they needed to experience firsthand to gain a true perspective.
"Mamelodi for a Month is a canvas for us to challenge what is most important in our lives. It is a blank canvas to transform our context. It is also a space to engage you in a conversation about these two fundamentals."
The people we will live alongside for a month have far greater faith than us in living a daily life of vulnerability. They have far greater entrepreneurial ability than us to live on the poverty line to get by. They have far greater stamina to survive illness without the comfort of a medical aid or in waiting for a bus at 4:30 am in the middle of winter that might or might not come. In this regard, we have come to learn from people who have less but often much more.
Read more: TBT: Is vegan horse riding still a thing?
Watch the news report from 11 years ago on YouTube.
In the interview, Ena says, "It's more about changing ourselves than it is about changing anyone else."
In a society quick to judge and eager to place people in boxes, this family chose to step outside their comfort zone to better understand what it means to live simply.
With a self-imposed budget of R3,000, they navigated the daily challenges of making ends meet, where transport costs far outweighed their rent, and food had to be carefully rationed.
One of the most powerful takeaways was the deep sense of community and togetherness they felt among the locals.
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