Thanda

We are a community-based organisation that provides innovative solutions for sustainable development. We aim to create safer, stronger communities by providing educational and skills-building opportunities to individuals. Our mission is to empower people to create positive change – change in individuals, change in their communities and eventually changes that impact the world.

After two years of on-the-ground research, co-founders Angela Larkan and Tyler Howard established Thanda in rural KwaZulu-Natal in 2008 to provide support for children through after-school programming. The model made use of existing resources within the community – unemployed youth were hired and trained to become After-school Facilitators and empty classrooms at local schools were used to host after-school sessions.

Today, we offer four core programmes: 1) Imbewu and Ndunge Early Childhood Development; 2) Siyazazi After-school Programming; 3) Nisela Organic Farming; and 4) Creative Learning Training.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, we modified our programmes so that learning would not be interrupted. Some of these modifications are no longer necessary as it has now been safe to resume in-person learning. Other modifications have remained intact.