TRANSFORMING COMMUNITIES
ONE INDIVIDUAL AT A TIME.
ONE FAMILY AT A TIME.
WHO WE ARE
between like-minded organisations who are actively involved in community upliftment projects throughout South Africa and beyond. A flagship model is located in the area of Kleinskool (within Bethelsdorp) on the outskirts of Gqeberha/Port Elizabeth, in the Eastern Cape.
WHAT WE DO
economic empowerment, education and training. We act as an intermediary in the Corporate Social Initiative (CSI) process by linking corporate and private donors to well-established, trusted NPO’s and projects. We require no fee, and provide support and guidance to both investors/donors and the recipient projects and NPO’s through sharing of knowledge and resources.
WHY WE DO IT
and our vulnerable communities, families and children are suffering the consequences. The residents of Kleinskool and surrounds have the highest malnutrition rate in the metropole, and many lack access to the most basic services. The bucket system is still widely in use; school drop-out rates are extremely high; and very limited prospects exist for employment. There is widespread substance abuse, gangsterism, and the ever present physical and psychological burden of waste and litter confronts these residents daily.
It is our firm conviction that in spite of the good intentions of many well intended charity hand-downs to these needy communities, that more often than not, the adverse long-term effects of unsustainable supply and free hand-outs tend to outweigh their short-term satisfaction. Real holistic help should aim at both short-term and long-term aid, which will include financial, physical, emotional and spiritual help.
OUR AIM IS TO DEVELOP AND TRANSFORM COMMUNITIES BY REACHING ONE INDIVIDUAL AT A TIME. ONE FAMILY AT A TIME.
We believe that real, holistic change is possible through collaborative partnerships, sustainable programmes, relational networking and community ownership and participation.
Our dream is to see vibrant, restored and healthy communities whose renewed dignity and self-worth motivates them to care for themselves, their families and the environment.
HOW WE DO IT
The critical needs of the Kleinskool and surrounding community has resulted in the building and establishment of a well-equipped community centre, first built in 1998, from where various community – based projects are conducted with the help of volunteers.
our partners
Since 2018, Hand Up Foundation has partnered with these autonomous organisations and projects that vary in size and purpose, but have a common goal of community upliftment
Job-readiness programme that empowers individuals to excel in the workplace
- Providing employability and entrepreneurial skills needed to support themselves and their families, with a unique focus on character, attitude and excellence in their work.
- In operation nationally since 2007, with 45 centres opened cross 10 countries.
- Many students who have done the program in Kleinskool have found work and give testimony to the positive impact of the course and training on them and their families.
- Financial contributions help cover the cost of training, equipment, materials, transport and other costs.
Agricultural resource to equip and help the poor to help themselves
- Training of sustainable conservation farming methods for small-scale subsistence farmers and community members, and provision of free resources and support.
- Equipping and empowering communities through a well-established balanced biblical, scientific, management and technological solution for the agricultural domain
- Model gardens are established in many areas and communities, such as schools, informal settlements, and church grounds, including on-site at Kleinskool
- Outcomes include improved nutrition, food security and poverty reduction.
- Financial contributions go directly towards covering the cost of training and provision of resources and materials including garden starter kits, transport costs, and other needs including gardening tools and materials.
Training and support for pre-school teachers of under-privileged children from disadvantaged areas
- Addressing the needs of critical Early Intervention through improved training of teachers in the formative and foundational Pre-school years.
- The renowned Isivuno curriculum is Biblically-based and educationally sound, with a focus on mentorship and support, a sharing of resources, skills and knowledge, and emphasis on parent involvement and partnerships.
- Training is offered to individuals and caregivers that do not have formal or previous training
- Outcomes include improved school-readiness and less school-dropouts in future.
- Financial contributions go directly towards purchasing of necessary books, stationery, toys, posters and printing of training materials for teachers. Other costs include stipend salaries, transport and accommodation during training, as well as to purchase necessary equipment including tables and chairs for pre-schools in need.
Recycling swop shop that trades collected recyclable rubbish, sorted into categories, to be exchanged for food, toiletries, clothing and household goods
- A weekly recycling project that sees a few hundred community members participating each week in this purposeful and empowering activity.
- Annually 130 tons of recyclable waste is removed from the area.
- Outcomes include improved community ownership, responsibility and environmental awareness and cleanliness. People’s self-worth and dignity is being restored.
- Financial contributions help towards the purchase of stock for the Swop Shop, maintenance of facilities, staff/volunteer stipends, volunteers’ transport costs, administrative costs and general recycling costs.
- Financial contributions go directly towards purchasing of necessary books, stationery, toys, posters and printing of training materials for teachers. Other costs include stipend salaries, transport and accommodation during training, as well as to purchase necessary equipment including tables and chairs for pre-schools in need.
WHAT MAKES US
DIFFERENT?
We are uniquely positioned through historically strong relational networks, to link donors to these reputable, established organisations involved in effective, sustainable work on the ground. Our belief in long-term solutions of giving a ‘hand-up’ rather than just ‘hand-outs’, sets us apart from other similar charity organisations. We help fund and facilitate holistic help to individuals and communities in need, through a diversity of involvement.