SOS Africa

Children's Charity

(UK Registered NGO: 1188705 / SA Registered NPO: 183-821)

The SOS Africa Western Cape Trust

The SOS Africa Western Cape Trust (NPO: 183-821) is a Cape Town based charity supporting disadvantaged children and youth from across the Cape Town area. Founded in 2013, the South African non-profit organisation facilitates vital support to impoverished communities in the region. In partnership with local schools and in collaboration with other Cape Town charities, our grassroots NPO provides:

NPOs & Charities in Cape Town | Organisations Helping Children
The SOS Africa Western Cape Trust provides holistic education and care to disadvantaged South African children

These educational programmes are facilitated by experienced teachers based at SOS Africa Education Centres in the heart of selected school campuses. This trident approach aims to break down three significant barriers to employment in the Cape Town area: poverty, learning difficulties and escalating school drop-out rates. The SOS Africa Western Cape Trust’s first graduate is now in full-time employment with many more matric students graduating in 2024.

NPOs & Charities in Cape Town | Organisations Helping Children
The very first SOS Africa Western Cape Trust Educaton Centre opened at Grabouw High School in 2019

When was The SOS Africa Western Cape Trust founded?

The SOS Africa Western Cape Trust was established by its umbrella organisation SOS Africa, a UK based charity (NGO: 1188705) in Cape Town in September 2013. The charity’s very first Western Cape based education programme was launched at the centre of the Grabouw High School campus and provided scholarship schemes to disadvantaged children from the surrounding township communities. What started as a small educational initiative soon expanded to provide holistic education and care to many children from across the area.

NPOs & Charities in Cape Town | Organisations Helping Children
Some of the many hundreds of disadvantaged children supported by the Cape Town based charity across the region

This support includes tuition fees, transportation, stationery, school clothing and after-school care. The children sponsored by this initiative thrived and have remained part of the programme ever since; the first students to be enrolled in January 2014 are due to graduate later next year with very bright futures ahead of them (visit: SOS Africa Alumni page).

NPOs & Charities in Cape Town | Organisations Helping Children
The SOS Africa Western Cape Trust launched its Gordon’s Bay Education Centre in March 2024

Where in the Cape Town region does the NPO operate?

After the successes of The SOS Africa Western Cape Trust’s first education project in Grabouw, the NPO soon expanded to facilitate educational support programmes in Somerset West, Elgin and Gordon’s Bay in partnership with local schools. In addition to providing reliable access to good quality schooling and after-school support, SOS Africa’s four Western Cape Education Centres also provide Learning Support Programmes to children struggling with learning difficulties to help them progress though their respective grades.

NPOs & Charities in Cape Town | Organisations Helping Children
The charities holistic education programmes also support disadvantaged children from rural communities

The NPO has also funded other vital services for struggling schools in the area including the construction of classrooms, sanitation blocks and the provision of school learning resources and teacher training. Over the past 11 years the non-profit organisation has become well-known for breaking down barriers to learning and safeguarding the futures of disadvantaged children across the region.

NPOs & Charities in Cape Town | Organisations Helping Children
The construction of SOS Africa’s ‘Porta Romana Education Centre’ in Elgin, Overberg in January 2020

Was the charity’s work impacted by COVID-19?

Although the charity’s Cape Town based operations were severely affected by lockdown restrictions enforced during the COVID-19 pandemic, the organisation adapted to provide vital nutritional support to disadvantaged communities. As the eyes of the world looked to support South Africa’s struggling township communities, SOS Africa launched its COVID-19 Emergency Relief Appeal.

NPOs & Charities in Cape Town | Organisations Helping Children
The SOS Africa Western Cape Trust’s ‘COVID-19 Emergency Relief Appeal’ supporting local communities

Although this initiative was originally only designed to support the SOS Africa children and their families, it grew to provide vital food supplies to thousands of hungry families from across the region. The Trustees, staff and sponsors of The SOS Africa Western Cape Trust were extremely proud of the NGO’s ability to respond to the desperate needs of the Cape Town communities during the crisis.

NPOs & Charities in Cape Town | Organisations Helping Children
The appeal provided vital nutritional support to thousands of people across the region directly impacted by the pandemic

What youth training does the charity organise?

Following the vital role played by The SOS Africa Western Cape Trust during the COVID-19 pandemic in supporting local communities, the Trustees identified another major national crisis, youth unemployment. As discussed in ‘Why Support Charities in South Africa?’, by 2024 youth unemployment in South Africa rose to a startling 59.7%.

NPOs & Charities in Cape Town | Organisations Helping Children
Cape Town based charitable organisations collaborate to develop training programmes for unemployed youth

To help combat this emergency at a local level, the charity partnered with another Cape Town based organisation, The Village Collaboration, based in Sir Lowry’s Pass Village community. Together the two charities developed care worker training programmes which guarantee employment for young adults, regardless of prior qualifications, once they have completed an intensive three-month training course. To date the programme has 45 graduates, all now in employment. The charities aim to launch similar youth training projects in the near future.

NPOs & Charities in Cape Town | Organisations Helping Children
The SOS Africa Western Cape Trust relies upon the generosity of donors, sponsor and fundraisers across the world

How can I support Cape Town Children’s Charities?

There are many ways in which you can get involved in the work of Cape Town based charities like The SOS Africa Western Cape Trust. You can contribute towards the long-term education and care of SOS Africa children by sponsoring a local child in need. Alternatively, you can make one-off donations towards, or raise funds for, the charity’s many Cape Town based education projects. In return, the charity will provide regular updates and feedback showing the impact made by your generous contribution. If you operate a business in South Africa, The SOS Africa Western Cape Trust can also provide all the necessary documentation for tax relief and promote your support across its website and social media channels.

NPOs & Charities in Cape Town | Organisations Helping Children
The charity’s education programmes welcome corporate sponsorship from Cape Town based businesses

For more information once you have visited the SOS Africa website, you can also contact The SOS Africa Western Cape Trust Founder and CEO, Matt Crowcombe directly.