Bakusasa Trust, a non-profit organisation under Awesome SA (NPO Registration Number: 059-801-NPO), was formed on 18th of July 2013. Bakusasa Trust is a “Grass Roots” initiative and “First Touch” program that introduces golf to disadvantaged children from deprived areas, with the purpose of using the sport of golf as a tool to provide children with the opportunity, information and knowledge to build character, learn core values, and become physically, emotionally and socially developed citizens of South Africa.

Find out more on Bakusasa Trust.

Eden Kids Foundation was established by Pastor Joel to enhance the development of primary school children living in the Jika Joe/Masukwana Informal settlement in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu Natal. Working in partnership with YFC, Eden Kids helped establish a doorgarden project with the kids, a choir, a gumboot group and guitar lessons.

We also provide spiritual input on a weekly basis and run holiday clubs and camps for the children. A long term plan is to acquire a house that can be utilised as a drop in centre as the future of the present municipal building being used, lies in question.

Find out more on Awesome SA.

The idea behind the Future Farmers Foundation was initiated by Judy Stuart after the first agricultural student was sent abroad in 2007. The Future Farmers Foundation now provide a platform from which young people who are passionate about agriculture and farming in general can become successful commercial farm managers or farmers in their own right.

An apprenticeship system has been put in place to accommodate school leavers who are unable to attend universities, and in all cases these students selected must be passionate about farming and have an excellent work ethic and sense of responsibility. Most of the apprentices come from Zakhe Agricultural College in KwaZulu- Natal.

To start the Future Farmers off on their career path, they are placed on South African farms where they gain experience, starting from the bottom and learning a large variety of skills. After a year or two of practical experience, those who excel in their work can be selected to do a years’ internship overseas via grant funding provided by the Future Farmers Foundation. During this period, each apprentice has a mentor to guide him.

Find out more on Awesome SA.

Di Smith (left) and Derryn Campbell (right) enjoy a moment with storyteller Gina Mhlophe.

This Trust was established by a passionate individual, Gcina Mhlophe, who is a well known personality in South Africa and abroad. The Trust aims to become the leader in the field of education and social upliftment. This will be primarily achieved through the use of the written word, in terms of distributing books to previously disadvantaged individuals and creating libraries in schools that have until now not been in a position to have a dedicated library.

The work of the Trust will involve networking and uplifting the general population to embrace literature as a form of, not only education, but also social upliftment. The Trust also aims to share the celebration of the ancient art of Storytelling with all people in South Africa and abroad, and this platform will ensure that the stories of old will be carried through generations into perpetuity. The Trustees, who are like minded in their resolve, will in all instances comply with the Trust Deed whilst furthering the objectives of the Trust. This very valued Trust has its core focuses on the previously disadvantaged communities throughout the length and breadth of Southern Africa and with donor funding, would attempt to continue to deliver this invaluable service. This would include, but is not limited to, the distribution of books and the creation of libraries in schools, but also through presentations and festivals highlighting the urgent, country wide necessity for literacy.

Find out more on Awesome SA.

LOTS (Life Orientation Through Sport) is a non-profit organisation with the ambition to create equal opportunity for the youth of KZN through participation in sport & physical activity. Lots encourages changes in how sport is delivered within schools and their local communities.

Find out more on LOTS Project.

The Mabhida Foundation Trust is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation. It is aimed at empowering Slangspruit, the greater community of Pietermaritzburg, Edendale and its surrounding areas. The main purpose of the Foundation Trust is to, through education and community upliftment, preserve the legacy of the late political struggle icon, Moses Mabhida, who died in the struggle during the apartheid era.

Phile Mabhida: 0726971086

Our family fell in love with the uMnini Trust area and the people- warm, thoughtful and generous though materially poor. Although a bountiful rural community, the people of uMnini face numerous social and economic issues. Poor educational resources, unemployment, poverty as well as the lack of opportunities and facilities for the disabled.

While these are all problems common to rural communities, this is a community we can make a contribution to, as it is a community we will soon be calling home. Thus Project Zenzele came into existence. Its aim is to host resources that will enable those in the community to gain knowledge through free use of the library, internet access, computer room, homework/project assistance etc. The project will hold free computer training classes for the unemployed and children of the community, but will mainly focus on those with disabilities. Zenzele means to ‘do for self’, and it is that attitude of self-improvement and betterment through knowledge that we wish to encourage.

It is our hope that the learning center and library will become a sanctuary for the community as well as a helping hand.

Find out more on Facebook.

Siphakeme “Quality Pre-school Education for All” 120-752 NPO 10/05/2013 Siphakeme, based in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, was established in January 2012. Our vision is to see all children in South Africa being optimally prepared to enter the formal school education system at Grade 1.

We recognise that this requires pre-school education and socialisation. Many day care centres, crèches and pre-school are run by women with little or no formal education and who are not able to offer the environment for learning that children require. Siphakeme offers practical skills development and training for those teachers who have no training and who do not have the means or qualifications to attend a formal teaching college. By so doing, these teachers gain self-confidence and are empowered to prepare the children; each teacher touches the lives of 20 to 30 children in their class.

Find out more on Awesome SA.

Current national discourse clearly indicates that rural development interventions in South Africa are not working with an estimated 95% of rural development projects considered a failure.

In this light the Siyaziphathela Rural Village and Farm Development aims to provide a workable and replicable solution to rural development.

It is believed that a fundamental key to this solution is to place the needs, interests and aspirations of the community at the forefront of the development – where the community, assisted by an experienced and professional support team, is empowered to take the initiative in conceptualising, designing, implementing and ultimately determining their own future.

It is believed that only once individuals and communities are thus empowered, will the capital and resources spent on infrastructure development realise its potential.

Find out more on Awesome SA.