iThemba – changing what tomorrow looks like

Siyakhula. We’re growing. Together. That was the motto for 2024 of iThemba projects, working in the community of kwaMpumuza near Pietermaritzburg. Sustainability is absolutely key to their approach. They don’t tell the community what to do; they listen and let the community lead. Early childhood development is promoted by mentors who encourage mothers to read to and play with their children. The mothers grow in confidence that they have the power to prepare their children for a better future, bringing hope to these families. Mentors also help preschool teachers to get the best out of the children.

Nutrition mentors help the community with their food gardens. A mother says: ‘In January when parents struggle to pay school fees, my garden helps us all out - I can feed the kids from the garden until we have money again.’ Every week, iThemba’s youth mentors show up at 10 schools: doing assemblies, hanging out with kids, and teaching life skills classes. They create safe spaces for kids to talk about what matters - even hard things like bullying or abuse. A school principal says: ‘You guys fit. You know the kids, and they know and trust you. That’s why it works.’ Followers become leaders! A full-time youth mentor who grew up participating in an iThemba programme says: ‘I want to be a caring mentor to these kids, like the mentors I had, who gave me time and attention when no-one else did that for me.’ There are also youth camps, and ongoing construction of extensions to the community youth centre. iThemba wants to reach 75% or more of the community to reach a tipping point in order to see permanent, whole-community change.

Community, culture & cause: Our annual fundraising braai

What a day we had! On the 22nd of June 2025, Thembisa’s trustees, supporters and friends gathered in our co-founder Tonia Cope Bowley’s beautiful garden in the village of Tiddington, Oxfordshire for our annual fundraising braai (or BBQ to those unfamiliar with South African slang).

The atmosphere was warm and lively. Children and dogs kept everyone entertained (and occasionally on their toes), while conversations flowed and connections—both old and new—were nurtured. After a particularly hot few days, we didn’t even mind the few drops of rain!

Frank and Bev took charge of the braai, serving up delicious boerewors and hamburgers that quickly disappeared from plates. Alongside the food, we held a silent auction with some lovely prizes, and opened our small pop-up shop, also available online, filled with cards and gifts from home.

We also took a moment to reflect. Tonia and Frank shared a few words about how far the Trust has come over the last 37 years, and Ben, one of our new Trustees, spoke about why his family chose to get involved—to do something tangible, and to show their children that they can make a difference if they choose to.

All funds raised will go towards the salary of MNCP’s social worker, Msizi, who plays a vital role in supporting and strengthening families in the Jika Joe, Ezinketheni, and Northdale communities who are dealing with very difficult situations.

How to get involved

If you couldn’t make it to the braai but would still like to support the work of the Thembisa Trust, there are plenty of ways to get involved—big and small.

Supporting the Thembisa Trust isn’t just about giving—it’s about being part of a community that believes in dignity, opportunity, and hope. And there’s always room for one more.

Thembisa supporters are warmly invited to our annual fundraising braai in Oxfordshire

Every year, we like to get together in a beautiful English garden to relax, enjoy a proper South-African braai, have a bit of fun, and raise some funds for the charities we support in Southern Africa.

We warmly invite our supporters and friends to consider joining us!

Where: Ferndale, Albury View, Tiddington, OX9 2LQ
When: 22 June 2025, from 4 – 7pm (with food served at around 5pm)

RSVP: If you can join us, please let us know by Monday 16 June so that we can cater for you. Email us at contact@thethembisatrust.org or call us on 07941238605

Can’t make it but want to support?
We’d love to see you in person, but if you can’t make it please consider donating via the Charities Aid Foundation secure payment portal. All proceeds will go Mama Ntombi’s Community Projects, which you can learn more about here.

Trustee news: A couple of new faces

As you can see, we have been busy in the background here at Thembisa, refreshing our website and welcoming some new Trustees to the team.

Before we introduce the new-comers, we want to thank Peter Braithwaite for the wonderful support he has given to The Thembisa Trust over the 20 years as our Treasurer and Administrator. Peter and Thembisa found each other in the 1990s through the volunteering organization, REACH. Peter wanted to volunteer with a charity as he moved away from full time work in the IT industry. He initially provided admin support and then became our Secretary/ Treasurer, helping us to raise and manage funds for the many worthy projects we support. With his business acumen and proactive thinking, Peter continues to provide wise input into our processes, ensuring that they are efficient and of maximum benefit to our projects.

Taking over these duties from Peter is our new Treasurer, Caroline Mathew. Caroline grew up in South Africa and studied Computer Science and Mathematics at the University of Cape Town. She worked in IT and teaching for a few years before establishing her own software business, which has developed an Occupational Health software package. Caroline now spends a couple of months every year in the UK but still lives in South Africa running her business. She is also involved in a charity (Fill-a-bag Feed-a-Family) in Pretoria which provides food parcels to the poorest of the poor. We are so pleased to have someone as experienced and capable as Caroline to take over the important job of managing our finances with honesty and integrity.

We are also thrilled to introduce you to two new Trustees: Ben and Taryn Wheatley. Ben, Taryn and their family moved to the UK from South Africa in 2020 and still have strong ties to home. Ben is our website manager and assists Caroline with treasury administration. Taryn manages our social media channels.

To learn more about us and our Trustees explore our About Us page here

Thembisa Braai 2024

Sunday, 09 June 2024, 15:00–19:00 Please book by Sunday 02 June 2024
Adults £17; Children 12 and under £7; Family of 4 £37
To book email: contact@thembisatrust.org Pay through our CAF campaign page QR code

or Fundraising for MNCP


Bringing hope in Sweetwaters

Over the years volunteers have faithfully visited Sweetwaters, an impoverished area near Pietermaritzburg. They have provided food parcels and other necessities such as warm clothing, primarily to grannies who look after orphaned children. Self-help through vegetable growing or sewing projects is encouraged where possible. This project now falls formally under African Enterprise. A visit on Madiba Day (18 July) 2023 included a distribution of food parcels as well as a church service and was much appreciated.

Thembisa is now supporting the Eluxolweni Shelter

Eluxolweni (meaning ‘a place of safety and forgiveness’) in Grahamstown provides a home for neglected and vulnerable boys from all parts of the Eastern Cape. Currently, 20 boys aged 6–18 years of age are being cared for. The approach is holistic and the boys participate in a range of activities, with the help of many volunteers. Education is a corner stone of the Shelter’s work and school attendance is compulsory. One of Eluxolweni’s boys was recently appointed head boy at Fikizolo Primary School! Thembisa has recently provided a grant to Eluxolweni to replace the old worn and damaged flooring in the boys’ rooms.

Thembisa Trust's Online Cards & Gifts shop

We have our own online shop selling South African crafts and unique cards.

Take a look here.

Successful barbecue

Thank you so much to all who attended or gave donations towards our fund-raising barbecue on 21 May 2023. The weather was kind, the food was excellent, and information on MNCP was provided by a display and a very informative video. Together with donations we raised more than £2500, which has been sent to MNCP.

Please join us at our BRAAI (BBQ) on Sunday 21 May 2023

Please join us at our BRAAI (BBQ) on Sunday 21 May 2023
Proceeds to Mama Ntombi's Community Projects
Time: 3:00pm - 7:00pm
Cost: Adults £17; Children 12 and under £7; Family of 4 £37
Includes food, drink and one ticket for a prize draw open only to attendees on the day.
Where: Ferndale, Aldbury View, Tiddington, OX9 2LQ

Please book and pay by Sunday 14 May
Email: contact@thembisatrust.org or
Phone: 07814 804804

Please supply your contact details, number of attendees and special dietary needs.
If your plans change please let us know!