The Trusts’ objectives include activities in the areas of education & training, development programmes, job creation in the Greater Hermanus areas, and advancing community upliftment and development of impoverished individuals in Mount Pleasant, Hawston and Zwelihle. To be considered for funding, applicants must be registered as a Public Benefit Organisation with SARS and must have audited financial statements.
Anisha Archary – Independant Non-executive Director of Abagold Ltd
Liaison Officer – Elaine Davie
The Abagold Development Trust is so proud of the work we do in the community, and we have now added a video to illustrate this community work and commitment by the Trust.
Abagold has committed to the establishment of an Early Childhood Development Centre for the children of all its employees. This ECD will be integrated, multi-lingual and will support other ECD’s in Zwelihle and Mount Pleasant too.
We believe in supporting Education. We know that quality and strong educational foundation supports secondary educational success and directly contributes to the ability to go and study further or to be able to secure employment. By investing in early childhood education we are not only enabling the development of our youth but directly contributing to the socio economic health of our community and the beautiful Hermanus area. Help us to create a healthy future for our children, our communities and our economy.
Besides the CPYSIP we also initiated and supported a number of other programmes which benefitted the community.
Abagold Choir
The Abagold Choir was once again invited to participate in the FynArts Festival. Their much attended performance on 11 June led to a number of further invitations to perform within Hermanus and in 2016 in the FynArts Festival again.
Mandela Day
On Mandela Day the weather was foul. In windy and wet conditions Abagold employees set off determined to make a difference to the Khanya Educare Centre in Zwelihle and to the EJ Lombardi centre in Mount Pleasant. The Educare centre is a day care for the youth whilst the Lombardi centre cares for the aged. Both places were given a thorough facelift. The Abagold team painted, gardened and tiled and made a much needed difference to both these centres.
Directors Bursar’s Fund
Some directors donate their director’s fees. These fee’s are then used to fund bursaries for seven students. These students will be supported until their degrees are completed. No post graduate studies will be funded.
Building a House from Bottles
Anthea vd Pluym started this project in Zwelihle. They built a house with 2lt bottles filled with sand. A proper foundation was thrown and people all helped with this project. Abagold donated shells, chlorine, gloves etc. to clean the bottles & labour to help plaster the house and erect the roof. This project showed what can be achieved with teamwork, passion and commitment by multiple stakeholders.
DEDAT WPS Learners
This initiative was started by Abagold & Harbour Rock, through Get on with It.
Since 2014 Abagold has employed approximately 185 Learners through the DEDAT programme. They spend 6 months gaining work experience and get paid R2000 per month. Of these learners Abagold have offered approximately 90+ Learners full time employment.
Matric Studies
Abagold funded 18 Matric students to attend extra Maths & Physical Science lectures at Hermanus High School during the October school holidays.
Aftercare at Mount Pleasant
Abagold donated R30 000 to the Just Care aftercare programme at Mount Pleasant Primary. Abagold also gives an employee time off daily to help with the Grade 6 & 7 students at this school. He also coaches them Rugby.
Holiday Craft & Teacher Education @ Enlighten Education Trust
Abagold donated R30 000 to enlighten education trust for Holiday Craft education programmes and for teacher development during the holidays
Qhayiya High – School of Excellence
Abagold funds the Productivity SA-School of Excellence programme at Qhayiya High. This is the 1st school in Western Cape to form part of this programme, the objectives of which are:
Capacity building to empower the school to implement School of Excellence principles.
Facilitating improvement in school activities / operating practices which will transform the school.
Sharing information and celebrating milestones with all stakeholders of the school and other interested parties.
Further objectives are to improve the productivity and competitiveness of the school and to inspire excellent teachers and learners.
2014
The Abagold Development Trust realised that substance abuse is prevalent amongst the youth in the Hawston, Mount Pleasant & Zwelihle areas. This was highlighted to us when our longest serving employee was stabbed to death by a youngster allegedly under the influence of some substance. We initiated the start of the Clive Prins Youth Substance Intervention Programme (CPYSIP). Most of our funding went to this in 2014.
2013
Abagold supported 4 key projects:
1. Eco Schools through Whalecoast Conservation
2. Establishment of a Vegetable Garden at Waldorf School in Sandbaai. These vegetables supply a daily meal to the Learners
3. Positive Parenting Training Course
4. Izibusiso Home with maintenance, electricity and primary health care
5. Abagold participated in the Partners for Possibilities programme (P4P) and acted as a coach to the principal at Qhayiya High
2013 Achievements
Eco schools rolled out to 30 schools in Overberg of which 11 are in Hermanus. Lukhanyo Primary obtained International Flag status
Water tanks with reticulation established by Abagold. Vegetable garden extended at Waldorf school
17 parents successfully completed the positive parenting programme. It was subsequently rolled out to multiple facilitators and schools
On-going support to Izibusiso enabling them to care for the vulnerable youth.
Qhayiya High a great success.
It was clear that Qhayiya High facilities were not optimal for secondary education. Abagold Development Trust engaged with then Minister of Education, Donald Grant, about the need for a new school. We engaged with Municipality to get the land transferred to the Province which enabled the DoE to put the school on the list for a new school to be built. This has been approved and construction will commence in 2016.
