Awesome SA Foundation
Awesome SA supports and works with individuals and organisations that are making a difference. We also encourage others to start initiatives that in time will change the communities in which they live. In addition to our Awesome SA trust we have created an Awesome SA Foundation Account. Our foundation aims to promote initiatives that are making a sustainable difference in the lives of South Africans.
The funds raised through the Awesome SA Foundation Account will be used exclusively to support the organizations that are making a tangible difference to the future of South Africa. We believe the future of our country is dependent on creating sustainability among our people by developing skills, good education and establishing entrepreneurs.
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Three of the projects Awesome SA is supporting at present are :
Future Farmers – Creating a Better Agricultural Future for South Africa
The idea behind the Future Farmers Foundation was initiated after the first student was sent abroad in 2007. The Future Farmers Foundation now provide a platform from which young men 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.
To increase the numbers of suitably qualified students, Future Farmer Foundation is looking for farmers in South Africa and abroad to take on their apprentices. Please contact us if you are interested to learn more about this initiative. Judy Stuart
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
083 555 0082 or Sifiso Ntshinsa 072 812 8094 or Rodney Duma 072 465 6337
Zazida Institute of Entrepreneurship
Zazida is an organisation that is dedicated solely to the education and development of entrepreneurs in South Africa. Currently Zazida targets solely young unemployed youth however will also accept in 2012 young early-stage start-up entrepreneurs requiring further education, development and assistance. The current level of failure of start-ups in South Africa is extremely high. The Zazida Enterprise Development (ZED) model significantly enhances the viability and probability of sustainability of these young start-ups. The ZED concept includes one year of education and practical training in entrepreneurship (ZEET), followed by a period of hand-holding (incubation). ZEET stands for the Zazida Entrepreneur Education and Training. By working with and adding value to early stage start-ups, Zazida indirectly assists unemployed youth to find a job in these new, more sustainable, businesses.
Zazida currently runs a programme for the development of entrepreneurship that blends theoretical learning with the practical application of how to operate a business, in a structured learning environment. Application has been made to the HEQC (of the Council of Higher Education) for accreditation as an institute of Higher Learning and its programme as a Higher Certificate in Entrepreneurship (NQF level 5), therefore the institution is not yet accredited.
Read more...
Mother of Books and Zakhe Agricultural College
Gcina Mhlophe’s Nonzincwadi Mother of Books Project
Gcina Mhlophe has started an initiative to get South Africa reading. Gcina is a one of South Africa’s well-known storytellers and authors. The Gcina Mhlophe Storyworks -Nozincwadi Reading Road Show travels to the most remote parts of impoverished South Africa to promote reading and inspire future young writers. We are working with her to collect second hand books and distribute them to schools, which are in need. We have linked up with Hirsch’s and will launch a publicity campaing to collect books but desperately need funds to see that they are distributed to the poorer areas of our country.
Di Smith (left) and Derryn Campbell (right) enjoy a moment with storyteller Gina Mhlophe.
Zakhe Agricultural College
The school has achieved a 100% matric rate in the 3 years since their first matric class in 2006. The learners are taught the school curriculum in the morning while in the afternoon the scholars study agriculture. The school upholds Christian values, discipline and a strong work ethic. After matriculating learners are seeking employment on good commercial farms enabling them to experience the practical side of successful commercial enterprises. Awesome SA is supporting the drive to have these students placed with good commercial farmers. Zakhe Agricultural College needs financial support.
LIV (Lungisisa Indlela Village)
At LIV they provide holistic, residential care for orphans and vulnerable children with the core vision to “rescue a child, restore a life, raise a leader and release a star.”
By 2008, under the banner of Lungisani Indlela Trust, Tich and Joan Smith had over 600 children sponsored on their Back-To-School program, their Teenage Empowerment Project ran life skills in three high schools, and they supported, equipped and trained teachers in 27 crèches, feeding many of them, daily. They also assisted and counseled families in crisis through their Children and Family Support Project, and employed sixteen previously unemployed members of the community. Weekly they were asked to take unwanted children.
In January 2009, God told them to pass the baton to the local staff in Amaoti. It was time to build the village. Now the vision was for many villages. In September 1993 they found the perfect 83 acre farm north of Amaoti next to the Mahlabatini Community.
LIV Children’s Village Banquet
Wednesday 7th April 2010 will always be a landmark date in our city, as government, business and churches came together for the biggest banquet ever held at the ICC. LIV (Lungisisa Indlela Village) hosted a banquet for 4,000 guests to launch the vision for the first LIV children’s village
Read more...
Martin Dreyer’s Change a Life Academy
Not possessing the steely determination nor the body of a natural born ironman/woman I was bowled over by Martin Dreyer’s motivational talk.
For those who do not follow the sports pages, Martin Dreyer has won the gruelling Dusi canoe marathon seven times but in January 2008 made history when he and Michael Mbanjwa... a young man from the Valley of a Thousand Hills won together.
Martin was appalled at the harsh living conditions these young black sportsmen who mostly grow up and live next to the Dusi endure and so Martin set about developing his “Change a life Academy." With sponsorship from Computershare, Usn and Hitech. Martin is making a difference in the quest to change lives.
'Adversity is the breakfast of champions"
A true son of the African soil, Martin’s outlook on life is 'Adversity is the breakfast of champions" and there is no such thing as “bad weather, just soft people"
Read more...
