By The Imibala Trust
About us
Established in 2002, The Imibala Trust is a registered South African Non-Profit Organisation
situated in Somerset West. The Trust is committed to assisting school-aged children whose
lives are impacted by impoverished circumstances. Imibala offers a variety of programmes
that significantly and measurably enhance the lives of these children, both presently and as
they prepare for life after school.
We are devoted to making a substantial contribution to the lives of those from
challenging backgrounds. Through programmes in the Learner Advancement Department
and Creative and Performing Arts Department, Imibala children have the opportunity to
explore their creativity and abilities through a number of means.
All of our programmes bring joy and enthusiasm to the children who arrive for lessons in
art, cooking, pottery, drama, music, ballet, needlework, golf, literacy, gardening mathematics,
coding, and Lego play. Individuality, creativity, and encouragement all contribute to the
comprehensive experience of each programme at Imibala. Since its establishment, the
Imibala Trust has been a beacon of hope, transforming the lives of over 86,000 children and
counting.
Sponsor-A-Child Programme
Imibala’s flagship programme, Sponsor-A-Child, enables the trust to provide children in
need with a complete school uniform pack. This pack includes a full school tracksuit, a pair
of leather school shoes, a jersey, a pullover, a rain jacket, a 2 pack of socks, a 3 pack of
underwear, a t-shirt, a school bag, and basic stationery. By sponsoring a child, not only are
you instilling a sense of pride, but also restoring dignity and self-esteem.
The Sponsor-A-Child uniform programme is the primary method through which the Trust
supports children. It currently impacts the largest number of children who pass through our
doors. The uniform programme supports 21 schools in the Helderberg area and 10 schools
in Graaff-Reinet. Every year, new children are identified and adopted into the programme as
part of the continued effort to support parents facing extreme financial and social
constraints, ensuring a positive generational impact.
This programme is funded through public donations and sponsorships. The cost to sponsor a
child for a full year is R1400.00. When you sponsor a child, you are making a life-changing
contribution to an incredibly deserving child in South Africa. If you wish to sponsor a child or
for more information, visit https://imibala.com/imibala-trust/sponsor-a-child/
Creative and Performing Arts
The Creative and Performing Arts Department is comprised of several programmes including
art, drama, pottery, dance, needlework, ballet and music. These programmes encourage
over eight hundred children to explore their creativity and develop various skills every week.
Imibala facilitators and more than 50 active volunteers nurture the children and help them
expand their knowledge in an environment that encourages thinking outside the box.
Learner Advancement
Our Learner Advancement Department offers an array of academic and personal development programmes. The focus of this department is to provide programmes
that complement the school curriculum and add value to each child’s developmental
journey. Programmes are targeted at both primary and high school learners and offer
subjects such as computer-enhanced Mathematics, LEGO Play, Coding, Life-skills, Leadership Development, Literacy, Gardening and Golf. The Learner Advancement Department offers an exciting dynamic and holistic approach to learner-centred educational development.
The Imibala Trust Celebrates South African Culture with “Yes-Ya-Yebo!”
We are delighted to announce the success of our latest cultural initiative, “Yes-
Ya-Yebo!”. This production celebrates the twelve official languages of South Africa (including
sign language) and was showcased at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Scotland for the month of August in 2023. The show explores these languages through song and dance while infusing it with that unique township vibe and incorporating traditional elements through
performances such as the Gumboot Dance and The Click Song.
The cast is comprised of past and present Imibala students from the township areas of
Lwandle, Nomzamo in the Helderberg basin, and Macassar outside Cape Town. Travelling to
the Fringe festival in Edinburgh was the casts first-ever experience on an airplane. We are immensely grateful to all those who made the show possible and incredibly proud of the exceptional performances by the cast! The cast was bestowed numerous awards and attained recognition from global media outlets like BBC World News and Aljazeera. To read some of Yes-Ya-Yebo!’s glowing reviews, visit https://imibala.com/category/edinburgh-fringe-festival/
Thank You
The Imibala Trust extends its heartfelt gratitude to its loyal sponsors, donors, volunteers,
and the wider community for their unwavering support. Without you, none of what we do
would be possible – thank you for walking this incredible journey with us.
We are excited for the future of Imibala, stay tuned for our future endeavours, while
continuing to turn grey today's into colourful tomorrow’s.
For more information about The Imibala Trust and the various programmes we offer, please
visit www.imibala.com.
