We Are Africa’s official Community Development Partner, Uthando (Love) South Africa, is a non-profit company and Responsible Tourism initiative with a big heart that creates unique, meaningful and enormously beneficial links between tourism and a broad range of inspiring community development projects in and around Cape Town.

“We are immensely proud of our collective impact through this year’s event. The success of We Are Africa is not just measured by business connections made but by the positive change we create together. Uthando South Africa is doing incredible work, and we are honoured to support their efforts.” – Ryan Wallace, the Co-founder & Event Director of We Are Africa

Thank you, tribe! Your total donation from We Are Africa 2023 amounted to R441 866.00, which will have a lasting impact on local communities across Cape Town. The funds are allocated to a range of community development projects and address critical challenges in South Africa.

A huge thank you to our Community Development Partner, Uthando (Love) South Africa, who connects us with the projects that need support and allocated the funds to their various impactful initiatives. Take a look at how your donation has changed lives.

CHRISTEL HOUSE SCHOOL – “A WORLD WHERE POVERTY DOES NOT LIMIT POTENTIAL”

We Are Africa has enjoyed a special relationship with Christel House over the past two years. Christel House is where our annual Tree-Athlon with andBeyond takes place.

Christel House is one of nine unique Non-Profit schools in the world. The school prepares almost 1000 learners to achieve upward economic mobility, demonstrate good citizenship, and become empowered to identify and realize their goals, dreams and human potential.

Deepening the relationship with this inspiring school was a no-brainer, with this year’s donation empowering student Christaylior Booysen. Her tuition and attendance at Christel House School is sponsored for an entire year. Christaylior is interested in pursuing a career in tourism and her message to her younger self is; “Ignore the noise, focus on sharpening your skills and make a difference in any small way.”

ABALIMI BEZEKHAYA – “FARMERS OF THE HOME”

With 41 years of dedication and experience in the urban micro-farming movement, Abalimi Bezekhaya provides communities across Cape Town with the resources to establish and maintain their own organic vegetable gardens.

Their aim is to, firstly, combat poverty by growing food sustainably, using organic methods, at home and in community gardens and, secondly to provide support to the farmers in production planning, soil infrastructure, planning harvests, access to seeds and seedlings, vegetable transportation, and financial services to be able to run their micro farms. Abalimi Bezekhaya is underscored by a philosophy of respect for the earth, people and planet.

LADLES OF LOVE – “NOURISHING THE NATION”

Ladles of Love provides nutritious and wholesome food available to all.
They support local farmers that grow natural healthy food in an economical and sustainable way.

By empowering food entrepreneurs to grow businesses that create jobs and add to the national economy. With a myriad of severe challenges facing many communities in South Africa, hunger has increased dramatically since the pandemic. Ladles of Love has served an enormously impactful 36 million meals since the National Lockdown in March 2020.

With their slogan “one small gesture can change someone’s world. Let’s make it happen #HumanityAgainstHunger,” they certainly are making a significant difference.

AMY FOUNDATION – “TOGETHER CHANGING LIVES”

For 22 years, the Amy Foundation has been working to provide underprivileged learners in the Cape Town area with enrichment opportunities. With up to 1000 youngsters participating in their programmes daily, the Amy Foundation empowers both the participants at the schools as well as the surrounding communities.

With rising youth unemployment and hopelessness in South Africa, organisations like the Amy Foundation are providing vital support and skills to young people, so that they may go on to become motivated and inspiring role models to other young people during these challenging times.

MASI CREATIVE HUB

Many people at We Are Africa would have met or listened to Mama Yandiswa Mazwana “Mama Yandi” over the last two years. She is an enthralling storyteller, simply because she has such an incredible story to tell.

Masi Creative is doing many different things and with the help of We Are Africa the tribe is supporting a vital feeding scheme which is currently providing 1100 children with daily meals spread across 7 feeding schemes in the township of Masiphumelele.

PHILISA ABAFAZI BETHU “HEAL OUR WOMEN” FAMILY CENTRE

This truly remarkable centre offers a very broad range of support and services, including an emergency safe house for women and the LGBTQIA+ community. Thanks to We Are Africa, an Uthando cement table tennis has been installed at the Safe House. The table will be painted by renowned Cape Town artist Ras Silas Motse and will reflect the theme of “Love is Love” with messaging around Gender Based Violence and addressing hate speech.

GOAL50 EDU HUB EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT CENTRE

A donation from the We Are Africa tribe is now in savings for the next Early Childhood Development Centre to be constructed from recycled tyres, plastic bottles and film set waste bricks. Building plans for this unique and historic preschool are currently with the City of Cape Town and fundraising is underway.

This preschool will be highly visible from the N2 Highway as visitors arrive in Cape Town from the airport. It will address the huge challenges of education, early childhood development, recycling, litter, climate change, combatting gangsterism and more.

EYES2EYES FOUNDATION – “FUNDING THE MIRACLE OF SIGHT RESTORATION IN SOUTH AFRICA”

The We Are Africa tribe donation has helped to fund the gift of sight to Likho Mtotway a young student in the Eastern Cape.

Amanda Seccombe, the founder of the Eyes2Eyes Foundation had the following message to share with the tribe.

“This is an unbelievable story of hardship, perseverance and hope. The Eyes2Eyes Foundation is overwhelmed with gratitude for the support received from uThando and We Are Africa in helping us restore Likho’s sight!

Likho lives in rural Eastern Cape, with his grandmother. He started losing his sight five years ago, due to keratoconus. This is an eye disease that has caused his corneas to progressively bulge and thin, resulting in severe vision loss. His eyesight cannot be remedied with ordinary glasses or contact lenses. Living with progressive sight loss has presented this young man with extraordinary challenges.

Not only has finishing school been immensely challenging, but Likho’s mother had to make the heart breaking decision to send him to live with his grandmother, far from Cape Town. She simply could not give him the day-to-day assistance he required as she struggled to survive economically and support her young family.

Whilst Likho’s friends have done their best to help him with his homework, he has really struggled to keep up with his grades. Aged 21, he has never given up and remains determined to finish Grade 12. He is terribly excited that soon he will also be able to re-join his friends on the soccer pitch! Not being able to engage with a sport he loves, has been another big obstacle during a trying time.

We are over the moon that Likho will start his journey to sight restoration in June 2023 and simply could not have done this without your generosity and kindness.

With much love 

Amanda and all at Eyes2Eyes

Melisa Harvey