Our IMPACT

Connecting is our responsibility.

Since we founded Hope in South Africa in 2004, we have created connections for local communities to improve opportunities for health, education, sanitation, and leadership development. Through experience and relationships nurtured over the years, we have expanded our impact to provide grants to individuals and community-led organizations whose mission align with ours. With the support of our partners and generous donors, we look forward to continue to expand hope and opportunity in the Karoo and beyond.

Health

Creating healthy communities.

REDUCING FETAL ALCOHOL Spectrum disorder

One example of the impact of our health programs is our work to raise awareness about the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). More than 15% of children entering elementary school throughout the region are suffering from FASD or permanent brain damage. FASD is an acute problem in this region of South Africa.

We partner with FASfact to help reduce the risk of FASD for children born in the Richmond region and beyond. Together with our partners, Rotary International and Grassroot Soccer, HISA has concentrated its efforts to build awareness among the youth to the acute dangers of drinking during pregnancy.

We created a three-phase plan to build community awareness in collaboration with Rotary and trained 30 community leaders in FASD education and awareness. We have established local outreach teams in Richmond, Colesberg, and Kimberley and organize awareness efforts in each community.

We are implementing FASD awareness efforts among local farm workers and conducting FASD awareness presentations in the local middle and high schools.

REDUCING RISK OF HIV/AIDS

Grassroot Soccer is our major partner in the fight to build awareness about HIV/AIDS. Together, we are taking an innovative approach to engage youth through soccer and, at the same time, provide education on life skills and healthy behavior to help reduce the risk of HIV. 

Together, we have educated youth grades 7-12 using the GRS Skillz Curriculum and trained local youth leaders to be GRS coaches in Richmond, Colesburg, and Kimberley. We encourage teachers to use the GRS Skillz curriculum in their classrooms, conduct HIV testing and counseling, and provide housing and transportation for GRS volunteers. 

EDUCATION

Access equals success.

HISA is committed to providing opportunities for education at the Richmond Community Center that complement existing resources in the school. We operate after school programs that provide a wide range of educational and recreational programs for youth to grow and excel. We incorporate HISA's fundamental message regarding healthy lifestyles into all the activities that range from arts to sports.

We provide education resources, such as books, DVDs, and computers. We conduct reading programs, sponsor sports tournaments, and conduct programs in the arts.

We work with local leaders and teachers to design activities to engage youth, including developing talent shows, debates, and music recitals. 

As one example of how we're creating access to education, through our grant to the Goals for Girls organization, we enabled 13 girls ages 15-18 years old from Richmond, Northern Cape to travel to Johannesburg to participate in a 3-day Goals for Girls Leadership Summit, in partnership with Ragball International and Grassroots Soccer. The girls represented a diversity of backgrounds, speaking Afrikaans, English, and Xhosa. By the end of the summit, the girls from each community were to identify a need within their community and create an intervention project to address it.

The girls worked together and provided feedback to one another on their projects, all while practicing public speaking, setting goals, and improving communication skills. 

Leadership Development

Today's students. Tomorrow's leaders.

RICHMOND COMMUNITY CENTER

The hub for our efforts in the Karoo region is the Richmond Community Center. The Community Center serves as a safe space for community action, sharing, learning, and nourishment.

The center houses a soup kitchen, a children's library, recreational facilities, and our health and education offices. From this hub, our dedicated staff orchestrate outreach efforts to the youth in the local community and in the neighboring communities. Our efforts in Richmond and around the Karoo convey community pride and respect for all.

We created a library, media room, computer lab, and training center that engages youth in reading, movies, art, and educational and recreational programs. We built a playground for outside recreation and created new office spaces for HIV and GRS staff. 

COMMUNITY GARDEN AND SOUP KITCHEN

We transformed an unused space into a soup kitchen that provides daily nutritious and fresh meals for over 150 youth and created a community garden that produces potatoes, carrots, cabbage, and other vegetables for soup kitchen meals