Ilet Jonker dreams of a changed society
Two women from Florida are working hard to revolutionise the community.
Ilet Jonker, co-organiser of the Florida Community Market, gave the record some insight into her dream of a modern yet nostalgic Roodepoort society.
With the help of her good friend Claudette Carter, Jonker dreamt up the Florida Community Market, of which the first successful one was held in July. The market fused the good old flea market with a bartering system and some organic products, making it a hippie event of note as it was paired with a sweet mixture of vocal, musical and martial arts. The next market is set for Saturday 30 August.
But what inspired it? Jonker shared her dreams with the record.
“I wanted to start the market as I believed that people in my suburb could do with a comfortable place with a good vibe; a place where young and old could mingle, where residents could enjoy healthy foods and browse fine arts, where our artists could entertain with tunes that touches the soul …”
A lovely picture indeed. Coupled with the Talent Exchange, a sort of international bartering system where monetary trade is excluded and talent is worth much more, they linked another part in the community chain, says Jonker.
“We started trading amongst ourselves, getting to know each other and discovering the extreme value that lies within our community.”
Not only does trading in talents cut down on “tax on tax” as the produce usually travel from farmer to grocery store, Jonker said, but they cut down on their carbon footprint and save their cash for other expenses.
“It is a complete paradigm shift, and it changed my perception of scarcity and need to a perception of abundance and sharing.
“What a wonderful feeling!
“The times are changing so fast that we felt it was up to us to create our own new culture.”
Jonker and her friends in trade don’t want a culture of fear and suspicion in their society.
“We are all hiding behind our walls and gates and we don’t even know that an awesome person is living right next to us.
“A society makes itself strong by standing together and not being 100 per cent reliant on the big corporations that tend to be in it for the profits.
“It’s time that we put the planet and its people above profits,” is their strong opinion.
“For too long the balance has been tilted in the opposite direction.”
