OUR MISSION, VISION & VALUES
WE ARE HOPE RESTORERS. WE ARE THEMBALITSHA.
The Thembalitsha Foundation has been working with communities in South Africa since 1997, inspiring change and offering a hand-up rather than a handout.
We are a diverse team of people, committed to addressing the socio economic challenges of the vulnerable and marginalised people of the Western Cape
through healthcare, education and training. Our mission is to transform the lives of the destitute, forgotten and vulnerable in South Africa through educational,
health and training projects. Our vision is to restore hope and develop people to a point of self-reliance.
TEAMWORK, INTEGRITY, COMPASSION, STEWARDSHIP, PROFESSIONALISM, & LOYALTY
Our organisational values are more than words. They guide every action we take, from how we treat beneficiaries and staff, to how we report to funders and stakeholders.
We also abide by the International Principles of Fundraising of Honesty, Respect, Transparency, and Responsibility
Our Story
At Thembalitsha Foundation, we work alongside communities in the Western Cape to create pathways to possibilities for children, young people, mothers and families facing socio-economic challenges.
Established in 1997, Thembalitsha is a registered Non-Profit Company (NPC) and Section 18A organisation. Today, we reach more than 3,500 beneficiaries each month through programmes focused on early childhood development, maternal and child health, education, skills development and youth development.
Our programmes include three Educare centres, the Mama Themba mother-to-baby programme, Themba Training, the Children’s Book Club and H Cubed youth development programme. Each programme is designed to respond to a specific need while creating practical opportunities for people to grow, learn and build more secure futures.
Our work is made possible through a dedicated team of staff, volunteers, community partners, funders, businesses, churches and individual supporters in South Africa and abroad. This includes our UK and US fundraising partners, as well as a growing network of organisations and individuals who share our commitment to creating meaningful and sustainable change.
We believe that lasting change happens when communities have access to the support, resources and opportunities they need to thrive. Through our programmes and partnerships, we work to strengthen individuals, families and communities and create pathways to possibilities for the future.
Thembalitsha Foundation began in 1997, founded by Frank and Katherine Christie with a simple but powerful belief: that every person deserves the opportunity to live with dignity, hope and possibility.
What started as a response to the needs of vulnerable communities in the Western Cape, South Africa, has grown into an organisation working across a range of interconnected needs, from early childhood development and maternal and child health to education, skills development and youth support. Over the years, our programmes have evolved as the needs of the communities we serve have changed. What has remained constant is our commitment to walking alongside people and creating practical opportunities that can help change the course of their lives.
Today, Thembalitsha supports more than 3,500 beneficiaries each month. From providing a safe and nurturing environment for young children, to supporting mothers and babies, equipping young people with skills and creating opportunities for learning and development, our work is about more than meeting an immediate need. It is about helping people build stronger foundations for their future.
We know that meaningful change does not happen in isolation. Our story has always been shaped by the people we work with and the many individuals, organisations, businesses, churches, volunteers and funders who have chosen to walk alongside us. Their support enables us to respond to real needs and invest in opportunities that can have a lasting impact.
As we look towards our 30th anniversary in 2027, we are proud of how far Thembalitsha has come, while recognising that there is still much to do. Our story continues to be one of partnership, perseverance and possibility, with a shared commitment to creating pathways to possibilities for the generations to come.
