Justin van Breda (1992S) shared with us the exciting news that he is founding a charity school and foundation teaching less advantaged learners in CRAFT and it is called the Cape Craft School. 

Cape Craft School is an initiative to create an academy for high school graduates to learn a series of sustainable crafts and business skills. Enabling them to enter viable and sustainable employment, and ideally to go into their communities and set up small enterprises, employing a small team and creating a micro economy. At the same time setting up an initiative servicing this micro economy; creating a fully fledged sales and commercial platform with international exposure for the craftspeople and buying opportunities for the international community.

Find out more by Bishops ODU

High school graduates in South Africa have very little further educational opportunities, and this initiative would give them the opportunity to learn applicable skills and crafts that could be implemented in a business on a grassroots level.

The concept is to educate 200 students per annum in a usable craft and skill. These students would be empowered to enter their communities creating 3-5 jobs and create a ground roots transformation. Each year this could impact the lives of 2,500 people living in low income or poverty environments. We envisage that the most successful graduates would be able to build and scale their enterprise, as there is an in-built alumni network of skilled workmen who they could employ. The school will set up continued mentoring programmes, online sales platforms, international exposure, and a continual marketplace for the crafts created by the alumni.

I have just begun the initiative and we plan to open the campus in 2026 to 200 learners.

To find out how to get involved, or sponsor a learner,  CLICK HERE or email Justin at [email protected].

Download the Cape Craft School Prospectus HERE.

If you are involved in similar initiatives and giving back projects, please share your story.  You can send an email to us at [email protected].