Cape Town museum offers a window into life as a migrant worker under apartheid
By Mary-Anne Gontsana, GroundUp.
Buildings with many small rooms, each with narrow single beds or bunks, crowded with male migrant labourers – these were the workers’ hostels in Lwandle township, Cape Town. The last preserved one – Hostel 33 in Khayalethu Street – is attached to...
Building resilient nonprofits: Leadership and strategic development through Stepwise Consulting
This interview series with our #Nonprofit Service Provider Classifieds advertisers aims to unveil the stories and motivations behind those who specialise in uplifting and guiding the nonprofit community.
In this interview, we talk with Cedric de Beer, founder of Stepwise...
Turning Crises into Opportunities: Explore the 2024 IPASA Annual Review
“To tackle the interconnected challenges of our time, philanthropy must act boldly and collaboratively to create systemic change." -- Yogavelli Nambiar, social change strategist and editor of the 2024 IPASA Annual Review of South African Philanthropy.
Philanthropy has the unique power to addres...
Please pay it forward!
In the nonprofit world, knowledge and experience are some of the most valuable assets we can share. The concept of “paying it forward”—freely passing on what we know to others—strengthens the sector, especially as many organizations grapple with limited resources and increasing demands.
When I f...
The heart of nonprofit accounting: Brenda Coetzee on Ziyo’s mission for nonprofits
This interview series with our #Nonprofit Service Provider Classifieds advertisers aims to unveil the stories and motivations behind those who specialise in uplifting and guiding the nonprofit community.
In this interview, we talk with Brenda Coetzee, CEO of Ziyo, Accoun...
Capturing impact: Anna Lusty transforms nonprofit storytelling through photography
This interview series with our #Nonprofit Service Provider Classifieds advertisers aims to unveil the stories and motivations behind those who specialise in uplifting and guiding the nonprofit community.
In this interview, we chat with Anna Lusty, founder of Made In My Camera...
Recruitment with heart: How Annelie Marais supports nonprofits in achieving their mission
This interview series with our #Nonprofit Service Provider Classifieds advertisers aims to unveil the stories and motivations behind those who specialise in uplifting and guiding the nonprofit community.
In this interview, we chat with Annelie Marais, founder of Marais Button...
Amplifying nonprofit impact: Warren Lodge highlights the power of branding for social good
This interview series with our #Nonprofit Service Provider Classifieds advertisers aims to unveil the stories and motivations behind those who specialise in uplifting and guiding the nonprofit community.
In this interview, we chat with Warren Lodge, founder of LifeBrand.
Tell me abo...
Behind the numbers: Reza Amra on strengthening South Africa’s nonprofit sector
This interview series with our #Nonprofit Service Provider Classifieds advertisers aims to unveil the stories and motivations behind those who specialise in uplifting and guiding the nonprofit community.
In this interview, we get to know Reza Amra, Director of Turning Point Charte...
Turning everyday shopping into purposeful giving: Interview with Kirstyn Liang, ShopDonation
This interview series with our #Nonprofit Service Provider Classifieds advertisers aims to unveil the stories and motivations behind those who specialise in uplifting and guiding the nonprofit community.
In this interview, we get to know Kirstyn Liang, founder of ShopDonation SA.
Tel...
The Power of Passion and Strategy: Interview with Carolin Gomulia, The Workroom
This interview series with our #Nonprofit Service Provider Classifieds advertisers aims to unveil the stories and motivations behind those who specialise in uplifting and guiding the nonprofit community.
In this interview, we get to know Carolin Gomulia, The Workroom.
Q: Tell m...
Gender-based violence in South Africa: How reliable is the data?
By Dr M. Weideman (Independent Consultant) and Ms. L. Cawood (Director, Childline Gauteng)
Gender-based violence (GBV) is a potential or actual threat that all women face. South Africa (SA) is frequently cited as one of the most dangerous countries (not at war) for women, and GBV is described ...
Innovating for Impact: Iris Cochrane’s Mission with In-Contact
This interview series with our #Nonprofit Service Provider Classifieds advertisers aims to unveil the stories and motivations behind those who specialise in uplifting and guiding the nonprofit community.
In this interview, we get to know Iris Cochrane, In-Contact
Q: Can you tel...
Dogs and cats get their own taxi in Cape Town
A handful of four-legged companions from Vrygrond in Cape Town got to test out a new bicycle taxi for pets run by the organisation, AfriPaw. The aim of the initiative is to provide access to the animal clinics for pets living in under-resourced communities like Vrygrond.
“We noticed that people ...
A Passion for Positive Change: Interview with Nicole Copley, NGOLaw
This interview series with our #Nonprofit Service Provider Classifieds advertisers aims to unveil the stories and motivations behind those who specialise in uplifting and guiding the nonprofit community.
In this interview, we get to know Nicole Copley, NGOLaw.
Tell me about yourself and ...
Nonprofits don't owe you an Instagram-worthy Mandela Day
Mandela Day, celebrated annually on 18 July, is a global call to action emphasising the idea that each individual has the power to transform the world and make an impact. In South Africa, people are encouraged to volunteer 67 minutes of their time in honour of the 67 years Nelson Mandela ded...
The Wrong Reasons to Start a Non-profit Organisation
While most NPOs are established for the right, sound and moral reasons (such as a person or a group of people being so moved, so outraged or so hurt about people or animals suffering or environmental degradation, that they ‘do something about it’), not all organisations are established in respons...
SAPPIN offers new WhatsApp support platform to help parents and caregivers of young children
Parentline SA is an easy-to-use WhatsApp support platform offering comprehensive advice on parenting issues and challenges to parents throughout South Africa. Parents can easily join the user-friendly WhatsApp chat to receive instant access to parenting support, expert advice, and insights into t...
Interview: Ruen Govinder: Founder and Executive Director of Hashtag Nonprofit and digital consultant
Hashtag Nonprofit is an online magazine for people working at and serving nonprofit organisations. A popular section on our website is our #Classifieds, which advertises consultants and service providers specialising in the nonprofit sector.
This interview series aims to unveil the stories and m...
How to avoid "Groundhog Day" at your nonprofit organisation
The "Groundhog Day phenomenon" refers to the 1993 film where Bill Murray's character is caught in a time loop, re-living the same day over and over again. At nonprofits, this painful re-living happens not through any magical forces, but due to poor organisational practices around documenting inst...
Beyond belief, beyond borders: Do funders overlook faith-based organisations?
It’s no secret that social-good causes run by faith-based non-profit organisations play a crucial role in addressing societal challenges. However, navigating the complexities of fundraising within this sector often comes with its own set of challenges, as with any organisation.
With over a decad...
Children feel the magic of stories at World Read Aloud Day
By Ashraf Hendricks, GroundUp. Photo: Ashraf Hendricks
Everyone who can - teachers, parents, caregivers - should read to children, says Gabrielle Kelly, Head of Research, Impact and Innovation at Nal’ibali. Speaking at a World Read Aloud Day event organised byNal’ibali and t...
Fostering Peace and Equality Through Education
The theme for this year's International Day of Education "Learning for Lasting Peace," highlights the link between education and the promotion of sustainable peace. To achieve lasting peace, education must go beyond the transmission of knowledge and embrace values such as empathy, respect for hum...
Profits Beyond Profit: The Returns on Investment in Nonprofit Support
Return on Investment. I remember clearly the moment I heard that term for the first time within the NPO space. I was sitting opposite a funding committee and while looking at our operational budget, one of the committee members explained the importance of return on investment in their decision-ma...
IPASA Announces the Release of the 2023 Annual Review of South African Philanthropy
The Independent Philanthropy Association of South Africa (IPASA) is proud to unveil its fifth edition of the Annual Review of South African Philanthropy.
In the Annual Review, IPASA showcases prominent philanthropic organisations and their efforts towards addressing the pressing challenges...
Café offers employment for township youths, dignity for the elderly
Neighbourhood Old Age Homes (NOAH) recently opened the All-Day Corner Café (cnr Essex & Regent Streets, Woodstock). The café is the result of a unique collaboration between NOAH and the trendy Gardens café and pub, ROXY Late Night.
The venture launched in October 2023, and according to NOAH ...
Khayelitsha animal clinic celebrates birthday with lively dog show
By Mary-Anne Gontsana. Photos by Ashraf Hendricks. The biggest dog, the best look-alike, the cutest, the most unusual dog, the best dressed owner and dog, the shiniest coat, the cutest trick, the best behaved, and the smallest dog – these were the prize categories in a friendly competi...
The Mowbray Market
Every first Saturday of the month, small-scale farmers, producers and artisans gather outside of Gordon’s Gym in Mowbray to sell their locally grown produce, homemade foods and handmade goods at the Mowbray Market.
This new addition to the market landscape in Cape Town was first launched in Dece...
Simple games help children learn to read
By Liezl Human Photos: Ashraf Hendricks
A few hundred caregivers, teachers, parents, and children attended the Wordworks Early Literacy Festival on 16 September. The event highlighted early literacy and language development. Many of the participants came from communities on the Cape Flats ...
Introducing #Classifieds: A Game-Changing Service for South African Nonprofits
#Classifieds is a dynamic platform designed to bridge the gap between nonprofit organisations and skilled service providers.
South African nonprofits now have a dedicated space to discover and connect with professionals who can assist them in their critical work. Conversely, experienced no...
Basic Education Employment Initiative is scoring points on youth employment – don’t pull the funding plug
With just under half of young South Africans between the ages of 15 and 34 without any learning or earning opportunities, interventions addressing this crisis are often caught between expanding reach and achieving real impact.
The Basic Education Employment Initiative (B...
Your country needs you: Civil society offers challenging career paths for job seekers
The civil society sector provides space for individuals to work with others and become active citizens. People come together, not necessarily to benefit themselves and make money, but to achieve change in society.
We live in a rapidly changing society and the days of starting at the bo...
Checkmate: Gugulethu chess coach shares her passion with youth
By Mary-Anne Gontsana, GroundUp News Photos: Mary-Anne Gontsana
Gugulethu Chess College founder Babalwa Rubusana goes from class to class at Luzuko Primary School, collecting learners on the under-11 chess team. Founded in 2016 and aimed at young children, the college is a no-fee mob...
Transforming Access to the TRC Archive: The Bitter Aloe Project and AI Technology
By Stephen Davis and William Mattingly
Charged with creating ‘as large a picture as possible’ of human rights violations that occurred during the last three and a half decades of apartheid, the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) amassed an extraordinarily large arc...
Unlimited Child and Gift of the Givers Aid Yemeni Refugee Camps
By Roseisha Ishwardutt, The Unlimited Child
The Unlimited Child in partnership with Gift of The Givers, a renowned humanitarian organization, is thrilled to announce the launch of a ground-breaking pilot program that will bring The Unlimited Child's world-class Early Childhood Development (ECD) ...
Thriving Langa gardens feed hungry families: Former dumpsites transformed into vegetable plots
Residents living in the N2 Gateway social housing project flats in Langa have turned dumpsites on empty land into three thriving vegetable gardens.
Spinach, cabbages, kale, potatoes, onions, turnips, beetroot, pepper, peas, tomatoes, butternut, carrots, brinjal, sweet potatoes are grow...
Six learnings for successful collaboration in philanthropy
On 16 May 2023, the same day that the shocking PIRLS literacy results were released, IPASA kicked off its Collaboration in Philanthropy series with the aim of facilitating multi-stakeholder collaboration to effectively drive dramatic change to the current reality we face.
The recently announced ...
A passion for social justice: Wandisa Phama, Centre for Environmental Rights
Wandisa Phama is the incoming Executive Director of the Centre for Environmental Rights. An admitted attorney and human rights activist, with over a decade of experience in various roles in the public interest law sector, she is passionate about advancing social justice.
What inspired you ...
Reading crisis unveiled: 81% of Grade 4 learners in South Africa struggle with reading for comprehension
The South African education system is characterised by copious challenges and inadequacies that perpetuate the ongoing education crisis. The results of the 2021 Progress in International Reading and Literacy Study (PIRLS) confirmed that learning losses caused by the Covid-19 pandemic are se...
Celebrating Langa through its artists
On the pavement between small businesses in the busy street of Lerotholi Avenue in Langa is a large statue of a woman, made out of grass, stone, mud and clay. Inside, is Langa’s first art gallery, 16 on Lerotholi.
The statue is by artist Angus Taylor.
The gallery, founded by four young peo...
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