Grootbos Green Futures Foundation

The Grootbos Foundation was established to conserve the Cape Floral Kingdom and uplift the local community through research, training, educating and empowering children, youth and adults. Our Green Futures College and Conservation Research programmes began in 2003. Our multiple award winning sports development programme launched in 2008, with the construction of a multipurpose sports facility, including a full-size, third generation FIFA standard artificial soccer pitch (sponsored by the English Premier League), situated at the cusp of traditionally segregated black, white and coloured areas of Gansbaai. The sports development programme includes football, netball, hockey, canoeing, water safety, surfing, female rugby and athletics training sessions in Gansbaai, Stanford and Hermanus, which engage approximately 2000 youths each week. In addition to these sessions, we run programmes centered on HIV education, female empowerment, environmental education, proper nutrition, enterprise development and integration. With this flagship programme, we aim to uplift communities by empowering individuals through sports programmes, including accredited skills training and leadership opportunities, and simultaneously promote education, health, social integration and participation through sport. Our enterprise development programme empowers people through workshops, training and mentorship to prepare for careers within the green economy, or to set up sustainable micro businesses for which seed funding is available. We provide food security and food growing programmes for the community, we support four early childhood development centres that are owned by the communities themselves, and we run the Masakhane Hub which provides nutritious daily meals and access to free tutorship and internet at the Classroom, to the community.