Tshemba Foundation – Medical volunteering, Limpopo
The Tshemba Foundation is a medical volunteer organization helping to support rural health care in Limpopo’s rural communities surrounding the Kruger National Park. Medical volunteers from across the world give their time and skills to helping make a difference by strengthening local health care services and care opportunities. It was a privilege to provide the […]
Cultivate Coffee
Cultivate Coffee is a social initiative whose vision is to provide local young entrepreneurs and creatives in Empangeni with a hub where they can share office facilities, network and build relationships, and together contribute to social and economic change – all whilst enjoying some of the best coffee in town. The group recognizes that entrepreneurship […]
Mina’s Cooking Class, Ko Yao Noi, Thailand
On the island of Ko Yao Noi in Thailand, we found a great example of home-based community tourism. Mina who previously was involved in adventure tourism activities on the island, now runs cooking classes from her beautiful home. Set in a tranquil garden with lovely views out of the kitchen window, you get an expert […]
Project Literacy – Run Home to Read
“In South Africa 82% of children do not learn to read for meaning by the age of 10. If you don’t learn to read for meaning at an early age, it is almost impossible for you to learn when you are older.” – Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Chair of 2030 Reading Panel. Many South African children […]
YONECO Malawi – Fighting GBV, Child Marriages and Empowering Women
Since 1997, YONECO has been promoting the rights of women and children in Malawi, through the implementation of various advocacy and other support programmes and development initiatives that promote economic empowerment and skills development. Radio programmes are a powerful way to reach many rural Malawians, people will often listen to programmes whilst going about their […]
Plight of the Powerless – Malawi
Access to affordable power and where it comes from is one of the world’s key global issues and challenges to solve. Politicians and economists debate trade-offs between economic activity, coal-generated power and renewable energy sources. Climate change scientists, NGOs and activists debate and protest themes such as global warming, deforestation and big business. But the […]
Crossroads Teen Centre, Empangeni
In 2022, the Crossroads Teen Centre in Empangeni celebrated its 13th year of helping equip local youth for their future. The centre which is open from 11am to 5pm Monday to Friday, provide youth with various programmes and services such as study facilities, a computer lab, music room, tutoring assistance, counselling, plus a range of […]
Horse is our Hope
Ihhashi Ithembalethu (Horse is our Hope) is a local Non-Profit Company, set up in 2021 to promote and enable donors to get behind and support Dayspring’s equine therapy programme. Since 2006, the Dayspring Equestrian and Animal Farm have been offering free horse-riding therapy sessions to children from Thuthukani Special School. Equine therapy helps children with […]
Slovenian Bears
Brown bears which used to be found throughout continental Europe are now confined to four main populations. One of these is in the forested mountain areas in Southern Slovenia, extending down into Croatia. These forests are one of the rare areas in Europe where all three European carnivores, bear, wolf and lynx, occur together. As […]
Umkomaas Marathon 2022
Thuthukani Adult Workshop
UN Sustainable Development Goal No. 8 seeks to promote inclusive employment and decent work for all. Empangeni’s local Thuthukani Adult Workshop (TAW) makes its contribution towards this goal by providing protected work to adults living with intellectual disabilities. Started over 25 years ago, the TAW provides these adults with occupation and care in a secure […]
Gentle Touch Foundation
The Gentle Touch Foundation (GTF) aims to reach out and touch the lives of youth and members of our community who are in challenging situations. The Foundation operates several different programs seeking to provide support, encouragement, and skills to help vulnerable individuals and families overcome their challenges and lead more productive and healthy lives. Since […]
Travel, Street Photography and Landscapes
Informal Livelihoods
The International Labour Organisation estimates that more than 6 workers out of every 10 in the world operate in the informal economy and states that without formalization, decent work for all and equity in society will remain out of reach. Informal economic activities are typically low income earning opportunities, particularly vulnerable to disruptions, with little […]
Trailblazer Adventures – Umkomaas River
Trailblazer Adventures operates out of the Nyala Pans River Camp deep in the Umkomaas Valley. Apart from regular rafting trips through summer, school camps and other outdoor activities over winter, they host the epic Umkomaas White Water Festival each year, bringing whitewater enthusiasts from as far as Cape Town and Johannesburg to this relatively remote […]
I Live to Learn – Robotics Kids Club
Many children in South Africa attend schools without computers and go back to homes without computers, access to the internet, or live in households without spare funds to spend on data. With computer skills forming a crucial part of education and becoming almost a mandatory workplace skill, this lack of technology access and opportunity to […]