Practice meets theory – vocational training at the Ndlovu Vocational Training Center

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.

Community, commitment and inclusion – Ndlovu Farm as a role model for sustainable development

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.

Together for inclusion: How the Ndlovu Care Group and the Hugo Tempelman Foundation are changing lives

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.

That is real change. This is inclusion in action!

ENERGETIX Bingen: A reliable partner of the Ndlovu Disability Program right from the start

The Ndlovu Disability Program is a pioneering initiative to promote the inclusion of children and young people with disabilities. The program has achieved considerable success: In 2021, 45 beneficiaries were supported, a year later this number had already risen to 69 participants.

The program also offers vocational training, such as in the new brick factory attached to the Ndlovu Care Group’s vocational school. This factory offers employment opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities.

The continuous support of ENERGETIX Bingen has contributed significantly to the success of the inclusion program. The opening of the Jorishaus laid the foundation for children with disabilities to lead a self-determined life within their means. Some of these children are now employed in the brick factory and thus contribute to their own livelihood.

This funding program aims to provide long-term support rather than being a one-off intervention. The generous financial support and especially the continued support from our partners at ENERGETIX Bingen are crucial to maintaining and expanding this effective program. We are extremely grateful for your support!

A look inside the vocational school of the Ndlovu Care Group

This video provides an insight into the current activities of the Ndlovu Vocational Training Center. The participants of the Postcode Lottery Germany made the opening of this vocational school possible. The Hugo Tempelman Foundation would like to thank them!

Hugo Tempelman Foundation and Postcode Lottery Germany: Working together for a better future in South Africa

In 2022, Postcode Lottery Germany, in collaboration with the Hugo Tempelman Foundation, took a significant step for the youth in rural Bloempoort/Limpopo, South Africa. We are proud to have supported the construction of a vocational training center that will once again open a door to a promising future for 48 new students this January.

In the province of Limpopo, where the Ndlovu Care Group is active, young people often have no prospects after leaving school. This is where our commitment comes in: a training center for skilled trades has been created to provide boys and girls with a solid foundation for their livelihoods. We are convinced that education is the key to a better future, and this is precisely where our project comes in.

The vocational training center offers training in four different professions: Carpentry/joinery, bricklaying and plastering, painting and varnishing and plumbing. This practice-oriented training is intended not only to impart skills, but also to pave the way to a stable and secure future. After all, youth unemployment in South Africa is a challenge that will determine the future of the country. We would like to thank the Postcode Lottery for its support. Their financial commitment secures the operation of the facility for 3 years, after which the project should be able to stand on its own two feet. All signs point to success!

Thanks to the RTL Foundation: We help children for their generous support

The Hugo Tempelman Foundation is delighted to announce that it has once again received a generous donation from RTL Spendenmarathon as part of the “RTL Wir helfen Kindern” initiative. This significant financial support will help to realize an expansion of our vocational training facility to curb youth unemployment in South Africa.

Our main aim is to improve the situation of young people in rural South Africa, whose future prospects are severely limited due to a lack of educational opportunities. The average age of school leavers in this region is an alarmingly low 13.5 years. Without a solid foundation for a stable future, these young people face various challenges, such as increasing alcohol and drug abuse, teenage pregnancies, rape, prostitution and rising youth crime.

To help these young people in need, we have joined forces with the Ndlovu Care Group to reach them through early vocational training and offer them permanent employment opportunities. Manual skills are rare in the region, but at the same time in high demand. By expanding the building and equipping our vocational school with the necessary equipment for the electricity department, we can give these young people the opportunity to receive qualified training and then build a sustainable career.

The generous donation from RTL Wir helfen Kindern enables us to drive this important project forward and make a lasting difference to the lives of many disadvantaged young people. We are sincerely grateful to RTL and the entire “RTL Wir helfen Kindern” initiative for their support and commitment to bringing about positive change in the world.

First graduates of the Ndlovu Care Group’s vocational training center

Last month, 38 learners graduated from the Ndlovu Vocational Training Center, which was opened last year with great support from the Postcode Lottery Germany on the initiative of the Hugo Tempelman Foundation. These students have worked hard to acquire skills in plumbing, bricklaying, carpentry and painting. Now they are ready to set up their own business, earn their own income and realize their full personal potential.

Investments in schools and education are never in vain. We would therefore like to thank all our supporters who have stood by our side for more than 15 years and strengthened our commitment to children and young people in need in southern Africa.
Over the years, we have seen enormous developments – both in the communities and in the individuals we got to know as children and who are now starting their careers. The effort is worthwhile and it reaches exactly where it is needed. Thank you very much for that.

We wish all our friends, supporters, sponsors and those interested in our work a happy Easter and relaxing days in these tense times.

Grand opening of the Ndlovu Care Group vocational school

The head of the vocational training center, Reason Katsangu, emphasizes that opening such a facility in one of the poorest communities in South Africa is a major challenge. “We don’t take it lightly that we are changing the lives of these young people and their families.

One of the students, Dimakatso Makalapa, took to the podium to thank the donors and NCG for the opportunity to graduate as a plumber. “After graduating from high school, I sat at home for two years with no prospect of further education and when this school opened, I knew I had to take this opportunity to better my life,” she said.

It is well known that South Africa has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country. The extended unemployment rate is over 40%, and in rural areas such as Bloempoort this figure is even higher. This is partly due to the lack of access to further education and/or skills training, as well as the lack of employment opportunities. “The opening of the vocational school is a further expression of our commitment to achieving our vision of educating healthy, responsible and employable South Africans,” said NCG CEO, Dr. Hugo Tempelman.

At the vocational training center, learners are taught various practical skills and can acquire qualifications in plumbing, carpentry, painting, bricklaying and electrical work.

The cooperation between the Hugo Tempelman Foundation and the Postcode Lottery Germany and their involvement in this project will make a significant contribution to maintaining operations for the first three years. After that, the facility should be financially independent. Thank you very much!

Dimakatso Makalapa expressed his thanks on the podium.
Ndlovu Youth Choir at the opening ceremony.

Visiting Elandsdoorn: Vocational school in the company

Some members of our foundation are currently in Elandsdoorn. They are accompanied by a film team that documents the current developments and progress of the individual projects and new plans for us.

The students of the newly founded vocational school of the Ndlovu Care Group were first visited during their practical training. Thanks in part to the generous support of Postcode Lotterie Deutschland , the operation of the vocational school has been secured for the next three years. We are particularly pleased that the majority of girls are taking advantage of the opportunity to train for skilled trades.