Who are we?

We believe that it is fundamental to ask ourselves this question, but also to be asked this question! For it will always allow us space to constantly evaluate our existential relevance in what we are doing and within the context we are operating. The following will tell you more about us:

What is the Foundation about?

Hillbrow was and is at the forefront of social change in South Africa. Many social issues of South Africa are concentrated here: There is a high incidence of HIV/AIDS, woman abuse, refugee influx, urbanisation and degradation of urban environments, drug dealing, prostitution and crime. Many of these are related to or aggravated by the lack of social structure, urban socialization of the new residents and unemployment. It is not only gloom and doom. There are indications and efforts in place that suggest that a visionary rethinking about the role of Hillbrow is in place. There are many non-government organisations with such initiative. Local government has plans and is committed towards reclaiming Hillbrow as a clean, crime-free and peaceful residential area.

The Outreach Foundation focuses on the flat-dwelling population, specifically youth, in Hillbrow and surrounding high-density areas. It offers educational and cultural programmes that transfer skills and simultaneously develop the person of the participants, enhancing self-esteem, uncovering creativity, and thereby contributing to personal healing. Through incorporation of reflection on social issues, it contributes to the development of life-enhancing ethos in the inner-city community. We want to be an oasis, a haven for people, especially youth, from the community, where the disintegration, ugliness, and surroundings can be overcome.

WelcomeThe Foundation has a number of distinct projects through which it seeks to facilitate inner-healing of the participants and the community. This is realised through our missions statement:

What is the project about?

The Foundation seeks through development work to achieve personal healing of the participants and also to contribute to the regeneration of the inner-city of Johannesburg, especially Hillbrow by cooperating with all relevant stakeholders.

Facilitate an integrated and cooperative process of community and individual interaction that leads to social change and strengthening of cultural heritage.
Foster the arts as a means of communication, education and healing.
Offer positive, creative and stimulating activities to children and youth at risk of crime, substance abuse and diseases that enables them to be healthy, skilled and productive citizens.
Offer skills training in various art forms that breaks the cycle of dependence and fosters self reliance and participation in decision making and enables citizens to participate productively in society both socially and economically.

The Foundation does not assist people financially nor does it hand out food parcels or packages. We do not subscribe to this form of handing out a finished product, but rather we want to walk with the person so that s/he can attain the finished product through his/her own means and efforts.

What does the Outreach Foundation do?

The Foundation seeks to attain and realise the following objectives:

Be involved in community building initiatives.
Facilitate healing through personal development.
Encourage self-believe by imparting skills.
Engender hope and positive values.

Being situated in a socially challenging context of street children, criminality, a flourishing drug environment which in turn sustains sex workers, we believe that hope can be achieved in this environment. We have seen a marked physical/infrastructural improvement of Hillbrow, primarily because of local government initiative and private initiatives. The role of other NGO's (Non-Government Organisations) has also been pivotal in providing essential services to the destitute of Hillbrow!

The Outreach Foundation offers a range of educational, cultural, and social activities to transfer skills and attain the above mentioned objectives. During the skills transfer workshops, the personality and creativity of the participants is enhanced. The workshops are offered by trained facilitators from the community, who are supervised by a professional. Participants who went through the training are encouraged and supported to use their skills in income generation and to show-case the project, for instance by forming co-operatives. From these trained participants, future facilitators may be recruited and trained.

Sustainability

All our interventions are based on clearly identified and expressed community needs.
We strive for a diversified funding base and towards establishing mutually beneficial partnerships with all funders including donor organisations, private individuals, corporate South African institutions and the government.