In September, South Africa celebrated Heritage Day – a day that honors the country’s cultural diversity, creativity and community. At Joris House, an Ndlovu Care Group facility, this special day also focused on cohesion and inclusion.
Unique handicrafts are created there, especially artistic beadwork, made by young people with disabilities. Each piece tells a story – of craftsmanship, cultural heritage and personal strength.
In many regions of rural South Africa, people with disabilities unfortunately still encounter prejudice. Joris House sets a strong example here: It offers young people with disabilities a protected environment in which they can learn, work and develop themselves. Inclusion is not only promoted here, it is practiced on a daily basis.
The Hugo Tempelman Foundation has been supporting this valuable work together with ENERGETIX for many years. Thanks to the continuous help and great commitment of the ENERGETIX sales partners, the project has not only been established, but also secured for the long term.
Every year, Heritage Day at Joris House symbolizes what makes South Africa strong – diversity, cohesion and humanity. And these values characterize the work at Joris House all year round.
“No one should be left behind – that is our aspiration and our motivation,” says Vivi Eickelberg, Chairwoman of the Hugo Tempelman Foundation.
And Roland Förster, owner of ENERGETIX, adds: “Joris House shows how inclusion can succeed in the best sense – with respect, love and the conviction that everyone can contribute something valuable.”
In January, we reported on Nkhesani Manganyi and his path to employment with the Ndlovu Care Group. Despite developmental delays and limited speech, he was able to develop vocational skills with the support of the team and secure a permanent job in brick production.
Nkhesani now also works on the Ndlovu farm. There, he is involved in the watermelon harvest during the season. This work requires stamina, reliability and the ability to work in a team – skills that he has steadily developed over the past few years.
The cultivation of watermelons is of economic importance in South Africa, especially in rural regions such as Limpopo. It not only contributes to the supply of fresh food, but also creates seasonal jobs. The Ndlovu Care Group combines two goals: To strengthen food security in the region and to provide people with practical employment opportunities.
Nkhesani’s new area of work shows how flexible the fields of work in the projects are. He can contribute his experience from his previous work and acquire new skills at the same time. In this way, his professional development is gradually expanding – from production operations to agricultural tasks.
At the Ndlovu Vocational Training Center, we focus on hands-on learning. Our bricklaying trainees were able to apply their knowledge under real-life conditions by building an L-shaped wall as part of their practical examination. These tasks simulate typical requirements in everyday working life – they promote technical understanding, manual skills and the self-confidence of our trainees.
This type of training not only strengthens technical skills, but also paves the way for a successful professional future.
We would like to thank the German Postcode Lottery for its generous support for the construction of our vocational training center. Only such support makes sustainable education possible for young people locally.
In recent months, together with the Deutsche Postcode Lottery and the Ndlovu Care Group, we have been able to supply over 4,900 girls in the Moutse region of South Africa with menstrual hygiene products – specifically with over 11,600 packs of sanitary towels in April and May 2025 alone.
What seems like a purely logistical figure means something completely different on the ground: security, dignity and genuine participation in everyday education.
The feedback from the schools shows how urgently this help was needed:
“Before the program, some of our girls were missing several days a month. Now they are confident in class.” – Principal
“I am so grateful. My daughter can now go to school like everyone else.” – Mother
“Menstruation must not be a barrier to education. This project helps us to change that.” – Teacher
However, the provision of hygiene products alone is only part of the success. Accompanying information events and talks, for example by the PowerMamas, have integrated the topic of menstruation openly and sensitively into everyday school life – a big step against stigmatization and for education.
During Menstrual Hygiene Month in May 2025 in particular, the initiative was able to increase its reach once again – with school campaigns, talks and targeted distribution. The positive response from the entire community shows how great the need is and how profound the impact is.
Together with the German Postcode Lottery, we are continuing our efforts to ensure that no girl is prevented from learning due to a lack of sanitary products. Education starts with dignity – and dignity sometimes starts with something as simple as a pack of sanitary towels.
By providing free menstrual hygiene products, the Hugo Tempelman Foundation and the German Postcode Lottery are improving menstrual hygiene and sustainably strengthening the educational opportunities of girls in South Africa.
The Hugo Tempelman Foundation is working with the German Postcode Lottery to improve educational opportunities for girls in South Africa. Recently, our PowerGirls received monthly hygiene products as part of a large-scale campaign, which we financed in a joint fundraising campaign.
At an information event, which required a great deal of empathy on this topic, the PowerMamas educated the girls about personal hygiene and its importance. After all, access to hygiene products is not just a question of health – it is also about dignity, self-confidence and unrestricted access to education.
Millions of girls in South Africa regularly miss school due to a lack of menstrual hygiene. This initiative provides a remedy: with the production and free distribution of sanitary towels by the Ndlovu Care Group – made possible by our foundation and the Postcode Lottery – we give girls a bit of normality and security on their way into the future.
Our common goal: No girl should be excluded from education because of her period.
A strong signal for equal rights and equal opportunities – pad for pad.Together against the taboo: The MAMAS Alliance empowers girls through knowledge and openness.A smile that says more than words – education begins with dignity.Cohesion and pride – our PowerGirls go their own way with confidence.Knowledge protects: Our PowerMamas sensitize young girls to health and self-care.Small in form, big in effect: menstrual hygiene products change the reality of life.Beaming faces at our PowerGirls – hygiene products mean education, dignity and participation.A step towards a self-determined future: with information and products directly on site.
Lack of menstrual hygiene as a barrier to education
Millions of girls in South Africa cannot afford menstrual hygiene products. A lack of education, inadequate sanitary facilities and financial hardship mean that many girls stay away from school during their periods. This not only affects their educational opportunities, but can also lead to health risks.
Support from the Hugo Tempelman Foundation
To counteract this problem, the Hugo Tempelman Foundation, with financial support from the German Postcode Lottery, enables the production of monthly hygiene products. These are distributed free of charge to affected girls via the Ndlovu Care Group.
Sustainable impact on education and health
The provision of these products has far-reaching positive effects: As well as reducing health risks, the girls can attend classes regularly, boost their self-confidence and improve their future prospects.
“For many young girls, the lack of hygiene products means they miss school and struggle with feelings of shame. This initiative gives them the opportunity to focus on their education and participate in social life without worry,” explained the Ndlovu Care Group.
Future prospects for young women
The commitment of the Hugo Tempelman Foundation not only overcomes acute challenges, but also sets a long-term course for a better future for young women in South Africa.
Potatoes were planted at the Ndlovu/Lefas Farm these days with a great deal of dedication and commitment.
Ndlovu Farm as a holistic training and inclusion project
The Ndlovu Farm/Lefas Farm was established with the primary aim of providing people in the area with the necessary agricultural skills to secure or even improve their livelihoods. The project functions as an education and training center where participants can receive training and gain practical experience in growing crops as well as in sales and accounting. This holistic approach aims not only to strengthen the individual skills of the participants, but also to make a sustainable contribution to economic empowerment and food security for the entire community. In particular, participants in the support program for disabled and impaired children and young people are also trained here in order to create a livelihood for themselves and their families. The story of Evonne Ndlala, a young woman from the Ndlovu Care Group‘s Jorishaus program, is particularly inspiring.
Evonne’s path to independence
Evonne received medical care and support early on due to her challenges at school. Her development was characterized by health challenges: After birth, she was diagnosed with tuberculosis and had to undergo intensive medical treatment. She also struggled with developmental delays, which made her school career more difficult. Despite these challenges, she always showed great fighting spirit.
Evonne is the youngest of four children and grew up in a stable family with both parents working and acting as her main providers. Her family always supported her, even when her school career was difficult. She repeated several grades until she finally moved to a boarding school for children with special needs. There she finally found the support she needed before transferring to Jorishaus.
The Jorishaus as a pioneer for inclusion
Thanks to the loving and targeted support of the Ndlovu Care Group, she has been able to make incredible progress over the years. Today, she is not only a dedicated employee of Ndlovu Farm, but has also found her voice: She acts as a spokesperson for her peers and inspires many with her story.
The Jorishaus, which opened in 2017 with the support of the Hugo Tempelman Foundation, has set a milestone in inclusion work. Thanks to the generous financial support from ENERGETIX Bingen, young people with disabilities have been given a perspective. In particular, the establishment of practical training programs, such as in brick production and agricultural work on the Ndlovu farm, enables them to lead independent lives. These were set up with the financial support of the DEUTSCHE POSTCODE LOTTERY . Together for an inclusive future
Evonne impressively demonstrates that inclusion is not just a vision, but a living reality. She is the best example of the success of this program and how important it is to give people with special challenges the opportunity to develop.
The Hugo Tempelman Foundation would like to thank ENERGETIX Bingen and the German Postcode Lottery for their tireless support! Together we can create real change.
Last week, the Bloempoort Campus opened its doors after the vacations for the Chill Hub – the after-school care program of the Ndlovu Care Group (After School Program (ASP)). The new eighth graders were warmly welcomed. Previous students spoke about how the ASP has had a positive impact on their lives. The ASP offers not only homework supervision and tutoring by subject teachers, but also chill hubs for self-study and relaxation, a computer lab for academic research and career counseling, and a variety of recreational activities. The Hugo Tempelman Foundation has supported this facility from the very beginning. For some time now, with financial help from the German Postcode Lottery. With its annual financial support, it makes a significant contribution to maintaining and expanding these programs. Here’s to another exciting chapter full of new developments and learning in 2025!
The Ndlovu Youth Choir, which has been supported by the Hugo Tempelman Foundation since it was founded, impressively demonstrates how music can build bridges between cultures and continents. In 2023, the choir from the South African township of Moutse traveled to Berlin to be part of an extraordinary musical project together with the Vokalhelden youth choir of the Berliner Philharmoniker. The support of the Postcode Lottery Germany made this stay possible.
This special encounter was documented as part of the KiKA documentary series “Schau in meine Welt! Under the title “Singen verbindet! – Vocal heroes meet Ndlovu”, the episode accompanies the two choirs during an intensive workshop in the Berlin Philharmonic Hall. The highlight of the project: an unforgettable joint performance at the Brandenburg Gate.
Since its foundation in 2009, the Ndlovu Youth Choir has established itself as a cultural ambassador for South Africa. The choir offers young people from difficult backgrounds a stage on which they can develop their musical talents, strengthen their self-confidence and draw hope. With a unique blend of South African rhythms, dance and traditional singing, the choir inspires audiences worldwide – from performances in townships to international stages such as “America’s Got Talent”.
In Berlin, the Ndlovu Youth Choir proved once again how unifying music can be. The collaboration with the Berlin “vocal heroes” led to an exchange that went far beyond music. 14-year-old Clara, a member of the Berlin youth choir, spoke enthusiastically in the documentary about how inspiring and harmonious the collaboration with the guests from South Africa was.
The documentary “Singen verbindet! – Vocal heroes meet Ndlovu” is still available in the ARD Mediathek. Experience the moving story of the Ndlovu Youth Choir and the magical connection between music and community!
The Hugo Tempelman Foundation (HTS) has been supporting the inclusion work of the Ndlovu Care Group (NCG) for years. Thanks in particular to the generous financial support of ENERGETIX Bingen and its dedicated employees and sales partners, real change has been achieved.
A milestone in this collaboration was the opening of the Jorishaus in 2017, which laid the foundation for bringing children and young people with disabilities out of the shadows of prejudice and discrimination. Many of the children affected used to be seen as “God’s punishment”, ostracized and literally hidden away by their families. Today, Jorishaus offers them a place in society – a chance to develop their full potential.
From the very beginning, Bild hilft e.V. “Ein Herz für Kinder” has been at the side of this project. With their support, a bus was provided to pick up the children from their homes every day and bring them safely to daycare – and back again in the evening. This transport option is an essential part of the program and enables many children to participate in the first place.
Individual support for a better future The Ndlovu Care Group’s day care center looks after children with a wide range of disabilities – from mild intellectual impairments to severe cerebral disorders. Under the loving and professional care of the trained staff, the children make remarkable progress.
Many of these children have now grown into adolescents, and the support of the Ndlovu Care Group does not end there. Today, Jorishaus also offers training programs that enable the young adults to become independent. The former “problem children” who were once hidden away by society are now not only able to fend for themselves, but have often become the main breadwinners for their families.
A key sponsor for this is Postcode Lotterie Deutschland, which provided significant funding for the construction of the vocational school. This facility has a section, brick production, in which young people with disabilities receive practical training. This creates prospects and gives them the chance of an independent and self-determined life.
An example of change: The story of Nkhesani Manganyi Nkhesani Manganyi, now 20 years old, was born with developmental delays and severely impaired speech. His single mother overcame all challenges under difficult circumstances and ensured that he received medical help. Despite his disability, Nkhesani is able to lead a full life thanks to the support of the Ndlovu Care Group.
Nkhesani blossomed in his participation in NCG’s programs. He works in brick production at NCG, where he is responsible for the precise management of materials as the “master of counting”. This has completely changed his position within the family: He is the one who contributes significantly to the livelihood of his family, who are building a new home thanks to his help.
Nkhesani is also involved in his community: he volunteers to patrol as part of a neighborhood watch, ensuring greater security. Although his family is often worried about him, his courage shows how much he has gained in self-confidence.
A Mindchange – Pride in real change The story of Nkhesani is just one of many that show the profound impact of the work of the Ndlovu Care Group and the support of the Hugo Tempelman Foundation. Today, marginalized children are part of society, are encouraged and challenged, and grow into strong personalities.
We would like to thank all partners, supporters and donors who make these success stories possible. Bild hilft e.V. “Ein Herz für Kinder”, Postcode Lotterie Deutschland, ENERGETIX Bingen and many others make an indispensable contribution to making inclusion a reality in South Africa.
