Locals get a chance to heal internally in Rockville’s sacred home
The aim of this place is to offer a sacred space for young people dealing with emotional burdens as well as finding healing through connecting with nature.
Ekhaya Lempilo (African sacred home for inner healing) opened its doors to the community on Thursday 29 June in Rockville.
The aim of this place is to offer a sacred space for young people dealing with emotional burdens as well as finding healing through connecting with nature.
Mandi Mankazana, the founder of Ekhaya Lempilo said, “The idea of this place is to provide people with a healing place that has a sense of a village, moreover, to provide a place for emotional, physical, mental and spiritual healing for my people.”
According to Mankazana this was an ancestral calling. This place is set to provide a different kind of healing which aims to connect people with nature as part of their emotional healing.
“My ancestors saw the need for me to open this place. To reach and help young people who are damaged and driven to dark spaces in their lives. To offer a home that restores people after being drained by life expectations,” Mankazana explained.
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“I want people to connect with nature, to understand the impact of being one with nature. Nature can heal us, it can nurture our minds and souls,” she added.
Taking time to unplug and be outside, with no goal beyond just experiencing the world around you has a positive effect on your well-being.
When you’re sick or recovering, being able to see the natural world, even through a window, or spend time in a garden can help you heal faster.
One of the young people that had an experience at this sacred place shared their sense of deliverance from the entanglements of life.
Nondumiso Gwebu, an artist, model and content creator said, “The time I went to Ekhaya Lempilo I felt I was truly losing my mind. I honestly had no way to stay afloat. I was barely functional and depended a lot on weed to keep me stable.
“After a full session, I literally felt like my mind was unwired. I learned truly valuable skills on stress management and mental illness. There’s such a huge difference in the way I manage stress right now.”
Ekhaya Lempilo Home of Healing, is a profoundly unique travel experience emerging from the heart of Soweto.
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The home and space that eventually became Ekhaya Lempilo has been a pilot project since late 2018.
It evolved from a family home into a student village, and then became the Soweto Inspirational Home Museum. However, due to the family ancestors’ instructions the space has taken its current form as Ekhaya lempilo Sacred Healing home.
“I want people to visit this home every weekend to unleash the burdens of life they constantly face. Instead of using substances, indulge in African nature healing,” Mankazana concluded.
