This spring, CAF America embarked on one of its most impactful programs: the annual Site Visit initiative. Every year, a group of our colleagues travels across the globe to meet with charitable partners, deepen our understanding of their work, and build stronger, more effective partnerships. The importance of these visits cannot be overstated. They allow us to experience firsthand the challenges and triumphs of the organizations we support, helping to ensure that our funding is making a tangible difference.
Sam Dokken (Validation Officer, Grant Services) and Dylan Mackey (Validation Senior Associate, Grant Services) spent one week in South Africa and Botswana visiting six nonprofit organizations. One of the highlights of their journey was their time spent at three nonprofits in South Africa and Botswana focused on increasing access to education through providing transportation and helping disabled populations. Learn more about their experience visiting charities below:
Qhubeka Charity: Pedaling Towards Educational Access in Rural South Africa
Qhubeka Charity improves education access and outcome in rural South Africa by providing bicycles to those in need, primarily to students in grades 9-12. They aim to change perceptions of bicycles as a valuable mode of transportation, promoting cost savings on transport and improving access to schools, clinics, and jobs. Since 2018, CAF America has supported over $228,400 in grants to the organization, with funds being used to assemble and distribute bicycles. In 2023, CAF America funds contributed to 1,700+ bicycles being built.
During our visit, we spent a day and a half in the small town of Groot Marico, about three hours away from Pretoria. There we had the opportunity to see several components of Qhubeka’s bike distribution program. We first met with the engineer of Qhubeka’s bicycles, Colin Cooper, whose primary goal is to create a bike that will last a lifetime. He noted that a standard bicycle will deteriorate very quickly because of heat, UV from the sun, and rough roads in South Africa. When Qhubeka first began distributing bicycles 16 years ago, the bikes would not last longer than 30 days in the field. Since then, Colin has built over 25 models to make the bikes more durable and increase the time before a critical failure happens. Not only are Qhubeka’s bikes stronger, but they can be assembled with basic tools that can be bought from a general store.
The following day, we traveled to Qhubeka’s assembly facility and warehouse in the early morning. Here we saw several hundred bicycles that were fully assembled and ready to be distributed to the schools in the surrounding area. We then followed the two trucks that were delivering over 100 bicycles to Mothlaputseng Secondary School. The ninth graders who received their bikes before their lunch break spent the next 20 minutes having fun and testing them out with big smiles on their faces. Our guide, Lise Olivier, shared that these bikes are not restricted to one use. The students will primarily use the bikes to get to and from their school. For some, their home can be five kilometers away and would take a student two hours to get to school on foot. Not only can the students get to school faster, but the girls can take longer routes that are safer, they have more time to contribute to the household chores while attending a full day of school, and retrieve groceries and other necessities for their families. Once the students graduate, they have the option of donating their bicycle to their family members or selling it to help pay for their university tuition.
Qhubeka Charity’s innovative approach to addressing poverty through mobility has made a significant difference in the lives of their beneficiaries. Qhubeka is an Nguni word that means “to progress,” or “to move forward.” Qhubeka believes that Bicycles Change Lives and this motto encompasses their work best, “forward on a bike, forward in life, and forward in health.”
Thuto Boswa Rehabilitation Centre
After meeting with Qhubeka Charity, we traveled to Gaborone, Botswana to meet with two charities that focused on serving the local disabled population. We made our first stop at the Thuto Boswa Rehabilitation Centre located in Ramotswa in the South East of Botswana, which stands as a beacon of hope and transformation for people with disabilities in Botswana. With a strong commitment to enhancing awareness, encouraging acceptance, advocating for equal opportunities, and securing financial support, the Centre has embarked on a multifaceted campaign to address disability and mental health concerns.
The primary objective of Thuto Boswa Rehabilitation Centre’s campaign is to educate the community about disabilities and mental health. By reducing stigma, promoting help-seeking behavior, and fundraising, the Centre aims to improve its services and facilities. The campaign employs a variety of strategies, including social media outreach, community workshops, public events, fundraising activities, and strategic collaborations, designed to empower individuals with disabilities, transform lives, and foster inclusivity within society.
In August 2024, CAF America supported a project to raise awareness, combat stigma, and advocate for equal opportunities for people with disabilities (PWDs) through activities like community discussions, radio appearances, caregiver and media training, and distribution of reference materials. With a grant of over $5,500 USD, the initiative reached 628 participants, including learners, caregivers, NGOs, and government officials, while fostering inclusive mental health awareness and building stakeholder partnerships. The project successfully enhanced caregiver-learner interactions, improved relationships with national disability coordinators, and improved media reporting on disabilities.
1. Computer Lab, Admin, Sewing Station, and Leatherworks: These facilities provide vocational training and life skills to learners with intellectual, learning and multiple disabilities, enabling participants to create products for personal use and sale.
2. Hen House: Producing over 100 eggs daily, the hen house not only serves as a training ground but also generates revenue and feeds the learners who receive two meals a day at the Centre.
3. Honey Production, Garden, and Hydroponics: Honey and various garden produce, including Chinese cabbage, green peppers, carrots, herbs, and lettuce, contribute to the Centre’s sustainability. Hydroponics are also set to be rebuilt.
4. Sports Facilities: Sports days held on Tuesdays and Thursdays encourage physical activity and teamwork. The sporting facilities are inadequate but they remain a source of outlet for distressing and talent harnessing for the learners at the Centre. Thuto Boswa shared that through the sporting activities, they are able to send learners to local, regional, national and international special olympics activities, citing that in 2023, two female learners were part of the National Volleyball team that participated in Special Olympics games held in Berlin.
5. Daily Living Activities: These activities teach learners crucial life skills, including cooking, cleaning, self-care, and grooming, fostering independence and empowering them to live self-sufficiently.
6. Rehabilitation Activities: This service plays a vital role in helping learners successfully transition from classroom learning to community life after graduation. Activities include counseling, decision-making support, psychosocial assistance for both learners and caregivers, connections with other service providers, employment preparation, and business mentorship, among others.
Thuto Boswa Rehabilitation Centre is focused on implementing long-term projects and creating a space for connecting with other disability and health organizations. This initiative, referred to as “rationalization,” aims to categorize NGOs based on their primary focus areas, fostering better collaboration and resource sharing. The Centre has also acquired a new 3.8-hectare plot of land, fenced and ready for development, signaling a significant step towards expansion.
By addressing disability and mental health concerns through a comprehensive and inclusive approach, the Centre is paving the way for a brighter, more inclusive future. As they continue to overcome challenges and expand their impact, Thuto Boswa’s work remains crucial in the fight for equality, inclusion and acceptance for individuals with disabilities in Ramotswa, and Botswana as a whole.
Botswana Association of the Blind and Partially Sighted
On our final day we traveled to Mahalapye, Botswana to meet with our charity partner, the Botswana Association of the Blind and Partially Sighted (BABPS). BABPS is an organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals with visual impairments.
In April 2023, a CAF America grant of over $5,700 facilitated the purchase of 100 white canes, which were distributed to the visually impaired in Mahalapye. These canes are a significant upgrade from what the recipients previously owned, featuring assembly and disassembly capabilities for ease of use. The distribution was accompanied by mobility training sessions, which aimed to ensure the independent use of the walking canes. During our site visit to a distribution center, we delivered walking canes to grateful recipients trained earlier that day, while engaging with DeBeers and BABPS representatives to witness the grant’s positive impact. BABPS has also collaborated with other organizations focused on disability support, such as Thuto le Pono Boswa Foundation, enhancing their impact through joint efforts in education, advocacy, and mobility training. BABPS continues advancing its mission to support the visually impaired community through collaborations, efficient project management, and plans to expand its reach and impact.
Through these site visits, CAF America has strengthened ties with nonprofits making a difference in education access and disability support, underscoring the transformative power of mobility and empowerment initiatives in South Africa and Botswana.
Learn more about the additional three organizations Sam and Dylan visited.
Explore more of the great work done by organizations we support by viewing our other Stories of Impact.
Discover more of the organizations’ initiatives below:
