Greater Stellenbosch Development Trust

 

GSDT logo for website

The GSDT supports education, culture and community projects in the greater Stellenbosch. As a human rights organisation, it aims to bridge cultural and material divides.

Friends established the Trust in 2002, and since then, the GDST has evolved from being an organisation that launch and manage community projects to an incubator for both and new and established NGO’s and other community organisations. Projects that the GSDT had nurtured are now independent organisations, each with its focus and expertise. The GSDT offers legal, financial and technological support for other community organisations and serves as a community space.

At the onset of Covid-29, the GSDT increased its support for Vision Afrika Primary School to enable the school to continue teaching on an IXL platform and adjust classrooms and other spaces to comply with Covid-related protocols.

In 2020, the GSDT was one of the critical partners in Stellenbosch Unite (with Stellenbosch Municipality, Stellenbosch University, Visit Stellenbosch, and SCAN) to provide relief to communities. It partnered with StelCovidAction to set up multipurpose stations in medically underserved areas.

Projects that emerged from the GSDT include Vision Afrika, SEED, Sakhikamva, AmaZink and Eduvate. Vision Afrika manages pre-school and after-school education programmes and Vision Afrika primary school. SEED assists small entrepreneurs. Sakhikamva co-ordinates bursaries for learners. InZync and AmaZink are venues for cultural and community events. Eduvate develops 21st-century teaching skills amongst teachers and also supports coding for learners.

The legal structure of the GSDT complies with best practice corporate governance. It also encourages democratic participation and reflects the rights-based approach of the Trust. The Trust and its partner organisations comply with legal and other requirements for trusts and non-profit organisation and are registered under sections 30 and 18A with the Receiver of Revenue.

Click here to learn more about the Trust Centre

VISION AFRIKA

Vision Afrika, a partner organisation of the GSDT, manages pre-school and after-school education programmes and Vision Afrika Primary School, which teaches in both English and isiXhosa. The crèche accommodates 80 children between the ages of 2 and 5, and the primary school has 150 pupils. Vision Afrika focuses on building strong literacy and numeracy skills at an early age, and the primary school offers computer literacy classes to pupils in every grade.

The school plans to add additional grades and take in more learners. Vision AfriKa became a GSDT partner in 2007 and in 2014 founded the school.

Click here to learn more about Vision Afrika

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EDUVATE

Eduvate aims to improve learning and teaching through innovation in the classroom.  Eduvate develops 21st century teaching skills amongst teachers at Stellenbosch schools; it also supports coding and computer club activities for learners.  Click here to learn more about Eduvate

SEED

Stellenbosch Entrepreneur and Enterprise Development (SEED) is dedicated to entrepreneurial leadership and development, in the pursuit of aiding business growth in local communities and making a positive contribution towards the growth of the South African economy.

Click here to learn more about SEED

 

InZYNC & AmaZINK

InZync and AmaZink are venues for cultural and community events. Regular programs at these venues have enriched cultural life in Stellenbosch and Kayamandi. Click here to learn more about InZync & Amazink

STELLENBOSCH UNITE

#StellenboschUnite is a collaborative aid action purposed to provide social support to vulnerable community members during the COVID-19 pandemic. The collaboration brings together Stellenbosch Municipality, Stellenbosch University, Visit Stellenbosch (civil society), SCAN (Stellenbosch Civil Advocacy Network, representing the non-profit sector) and the Greater Stellenbosch Development Trust (administrators).  Click here to learn more about Stellenbosch Unite

 MRCT Logo

THE MACIAS RESTIS CHARITABLE TRUST

MRCT strives to assist and empower charities that work with children of previously disadvantaged communities.  Click here to learn more about MRCT

 sakh-ikamva

SAKH’ IKAMVA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Sakh’ikamva  co-ordinates parental support for children.  Click here to learn more about Sakhikamva

Click Foundation
CLICK FOUNDATION

Reading Eggs is an online, phonetics based programme creating a fun experience for the initial acquisition of literacy skills.

Click here to learn more about the Click Foundation

Growing Kayamandi tourism enterprises

Growing Kayamandi tourism enterprises

Through a joint effort of Kayamandi based entrepreneurs, two cycling tours were recently hosted by Kayamandi Creative District (KCD)  for international youth travellers, consisting of respectively 22 and 24 participants.  KCD is a tourism focussed social enterprise...

Easter school holiday programme is resounding success

Easter school holiday programme is resounding success

Vision AfriKa’s one-week Easter school holiday programme was such a success that the learners even asked to come back for more. About 80 students participated in the programme, which started at 9am and finished at 2pm each day after lunch, during the first week in...