TransCape NPO, South Africa

Vision

 We are a connected community comprising of holistic, healthy and empowered individuals in an optimally developed and fairly managed sustainable environment.

Mission

To be an optimally informed, monitored, open and accessible hub with relevant examples, tools and networks for making positive choices about how to live.

Our Team (In No Particular Order):

   Mdumbi Education Centre

Masabulele Jay Siya	South Africa	Dip. Information Technology	Project Coordinator
Nolutho Hlohla (Board)	South Africa	ECD Level 4	Preschool Manager
Nokubonga Pitipiti	South Africa	ECD Level 4	Preschool Assistant
Kholiswa Masiso	South Africa	ECD Level 4	Preschool Assistant
Andisiwe Masiphula	South Africa	ECD Level 4	Afterschool Teacher
Nomfuzo Masiso	South Africa	ECD Level 4	Afterschool Teacher

 

Health and HIV/AIDS Program 

Gracie Rowland Dunn	USA	BA International Relations	Project Manager
Lozuko Bango (Board)	South Africa	Standard 7	Community Relations
Phindani Mafiyane (Board)	South Africa	Standard 10	Support Groups Coordinator
Bongiwe Zihange	South Africa	Standard 10	Home Based Care Coordinator
Vukile Toto	South Africa	Standard 10	School Program Coordinator
Caroline van Der Werff (Board)	The Netherlands	Medical Doctor	Nokuphila, Children in Need, Hospital Support,

 

Microfinance

Astrid Guehner (Chairperson)	Germany	Physiotherapist	Project Manager
Joe Hlabiso	South Africa	Standard 9	Project Assistant

 

Mankosi Community Sustainable Development Project

Hyman van Zyl (Board)	South Africa	Psychology	Project Manager
Sonwabile Poswa	South Africa		Cooperatives Coordinator
Nancy Shore	Canada	BA International Development	Project Assistant

 

Administrative and Non Project Specific  

Johann Stadler (Board)	South Africa	Dip.Nature Conservation	Construction and Vehicles
Adski van Tonder	South Africa	Medical Nurse	Health and Construction
Nancy Shore	Canada	BA International Development Studies	Volunteer Coordinator
David Brewis	South Africa	Construction	Construction Coordinator
Marteli van Niekerk (Board)	South Africa	Journalism	Secretary and Donor Relations
Hyman van Zyl (Board)	South Africa	Psychology	Treasurer
Velile Gxiyana (Board)	South Africa
Karin Zylstra	Canada	BA International Development Studies	Fundraising

Transcape NPO was registered on 4 August 2004 with South Africa’s Department of Social Development.  The organization was the initiative of Mdumbi Backpackers’ workforce and friends. Together with the medical staff at Canzibe hospital they established an NPO to help the communities of the Nyandeni sub-district to tackle their significant health, social, educational and economic needs.

Mdumbi Backpackers works closely with the members of Mankosi community, Nyandeni district, to develop the local area in an eco-friendly way that benefits the community.  They have been working on a range of tourism projects with community members since they first started in 2002. Through this experience the managers of Mdumbi anticipated further job creation opportunities that could arise through appropriate development of skills and allocation of resources.   

  

Canzibe is a rural Government hospital which provides a service to people in a wide geographical area, covering a large part of the Nyandeni municipal area.  Perceiving the gaps in the service that the hospital was providing for its patients due to poor facilities and resources, some doctors who work there were keen to improve access to treatment and care both within the hospital and the surrounding communities.  These hospital workers, together with the managers and staff of Mdumbi, established TransCape in August 2004 to: 

• Support the hospital to improve its service delivery
• To assist people to become active in their communities by participating in HIV/AIDS and health projects
• To take ownership of their resources and gain a sustainable income through tourism and micro-finance projects.
• Support the local education system with after-school classes which develop the knowledge and skills of young people to the appropriate national level.

Our Approach

Transcape helps implement projects that respond directly to local needs in the rural areas, ensuring that community stakeholders participate in their creation and development.  

 “Promoting a self-sustainable development”  

We believe in facilitation; allowing the communities to take ownership of the projects themselves, empowering them to face the challenges affecting them, and also ensuring that they are sustainable. Transcape’s projects include improving pathways to HIV/AIDS awareness, treatment and care, health promotion, education, job creation, and natural resource management.