Even Ground
Impact Stories
Two-thirds of children in South Africa live in poverty and lack access to the educational and health support they need and deserve. As they transition into adulthood, young South Africans face the highest unemployment rate in the world, constraining their opportunities to build a positive future.
For more than 20 years, Even Ground has partnered with community-based organizations working to interrupt this cycle through high-impact health, education, nutrition, and youth empowerment programmes. Our partners programs have reached tens of thousands of young South Africans and their families. In 2024 alone, Even Ground’s partners supported 7066 children and young people.
The impact of this long-term commitment is visible across generations: in children gaining early learning foundations, in families building stability, and in young people who grow up to become mentors, educators, and leaders in their own communities. Our Impact Stories highlight these interconnected ecosystems of support — from the everyday acts of care that shape children’s lives to the journeys of young changemakers who are now creating pathways for others. These stories reflect a shared belief: when communities are supported, the ripples of change extend far beyond a single program or moment.
Two-thirds of children in South Africa live in poverty and lack access to the educational and health support they need and deserve. As they transition into adulthood, young South Africans face the highest unemployment rate in the world, constraining their opportunities to build a positive future.
For more than 20 years, Even Ground has partnered with community-based organizations working to interrupt this cycle through high-impact health, education, nutrition, and youth empowerment programmes. Our partners programs have reached tens of thousands of young South Africans and their families. In 2024 alone, Even Ground’s partners supported 7066 children and young people.
The impact of this long-term commitment is visible across generations: in children gaining early learning foundations, in families building stability, and in young people who grow up to become mentors, educators, and leaders in their own communities. Our Impact Stories highlight these interconnected ecosystems of support — from the everyday acts of care that shape children’s lives to the journeys of young changemakers who are now creating pathways for others. These stories reflect a shared belief: when communities are supported, the ripples of change extend far beyond a single program or moment.
2025 Ecosystem of Support Stories
Across Even Ground’s network, care grows through connection – moving from one home, one classroom, and one community member to the next. Through the work of our partners, we see how parents, teachers, and local leaders help families build the relationships and resources they need to thrive. This is the ecosystem of support in action: a community strengthened by everyday acts of care that multiply and create lasting change.
The Story of Thembi Ntuli
In KwaNdelu, determined and community-minded Thembi Ntuli is one of many women shaping a stronger future through Thanda’s farming program. What began as a way to grow food and support her children’s early learning has become a source of confidence and connection as she shares her skills with new farmers. While Thembi tends her garden, her children learn and grow in Thanda’s ECD and literacy programs, creating a circle of care that supports the whole family. Her story shows how our ecosystem of support thrives when knowledge, care, and opportunity move from one person to the next.
Impact Pathway: Thanda
Through Thanda’s farming, ECD, and literacy programs, Thembi and her children enter an ecosystem of support that builds skills and stability at home. As Thembi continues to grow food and earn an income, her children gain a strong early learning foundation, strengthening the well-being of the whole family. With time, Thembi begins sharing her farming knowledge with other parents, extending the same care she once received. This connection creates a ripple effect of food security, learning, and opportunity across the community, showing how Even Ground’s support helps resilience grow from one family to the next.
The Story of Msizi Buthelezi
In Mtubatuba, KwaZulu-Natal, thoughtful entrepreneur Msizi Buthelezi is one of many parents whose children’s curiosity have been embraced and strengthened through Siyabonga Early Childhood Development Center. Since his first visit at the center, he found dedicated teachers and a supportive environment that helped his daughter and son build a strong early learning foundation. Grateful for the care his family received, he now contributes his time, construction support, and materials to help maintain and improve the center. His story shows how our ecosystem of support grows when families who benefit become part of the circle of care that lifts others.
Impact Pathway: Siyabonga Early Childhood Development Center
Through Siyabonga, Msizi’s children gained access to high-quality early learning that strengthened their school readiness. As he saw the impact of dedicated teachers and a supportive environment, his own sense of connection to the center deepened. With his construction skills and local knowledge, he began contributing materials, labour, and guidance to help expand and maintain the classrooms. His support strengthens the quality and safety of the learning environment for future families.
The Story of Nontutuzelo Mrhoxiso
In Vrygrond, Nontutuzelo began her journey by opening her Little Lambs ECD center in her home so local children would have a safe place to learn and grow. Through her partnership with True North, she gained leadership training, curriculum support, and the tools to strengthen the quality of her center. Her dedication eventually led her to head the Vrygrond ECD Forum, representing more than 30 centers across the community. Her story shows how care, leadership, and connection can transform early learning for hundreds of children and families.
Impact Pathway: True North
Nontutuzelo’s impact begins with her opening her own ECD center, giving local children a safe place to learn where none existed before. As she partners with True North, she receives leadership training, curriculum support, and resources that strengthen the quality and sustainability of her center. With growing confidence and skills, she expands her influence by leading the Vrygrond ECD Forum. Her journey shows how Even Ground’s ecosystem of support grows when one leader’s commitment becomes a source of strength, guidance, and opportunity for an entire community.
2024 Young Changemakers' Stories
Across Even Ground’s partner organizations, we are seeing the long-term impact of sustained, community-rooted support: young people who once relied on safe learning spaces, strong role models, and consistent care are now returning as the teachers, mentors, and advocates shaping those very programs.
Our 2024 Young Changemakers campaign celebrated these full-circle journeys. Through peer-to-peer storytelling, we highlighted young leaders who grew up in Even Ground–supported programs and are now driving change in their communities — leading girl-led movements in high-violence areas, nurturing early learners in underserved rural communities, and championing disability inclusion in places where children with disabilities have long been excluded.
The Story of Audery from Brave
At 25, warm and determined Audery February is one of three powerful young women at the helm of the girl leadership organization Brave, located in one of the most violent communities in South Africa. Ten years ago, while on a Brave retreat, the three made a promise to each other to continue this work for other young women in their community, a commitment they’ve now realized through their active mentorship of more than 100 teenage girls.
Impact Pathway: Youth Development
Young people in South Africa face many adversities that constrain their opportunities in life. These include a poor quality education system and limited opportunities for mentorship, support, and skills development to prepare them for employment. The situation is even worse for young women, who face some of the highest rates of gender-based violence and HIV in the world as well as very high rates of teen pregnancy. Even Ground supports projects like Brave, Kgololo, and Thanda that help young people to develop the agency and capacity they need to make healthy life decisions and thrive. Brave fosters a girl-led movement that has provided leadership training and skills development to more than 500 girls and young women in the past 13 years. Their impact shines through the increased resilience to trauma, increased self-confidence, and improved school attendance, performance, and attitude amongst the girls they support. Even Ground has supported Brave since 2019.
The Story of Qiniso from Thanda
At just 21 years old, Qiniso Xolisani Cele is a dynamic Early Childhood Development (ECD) teacher and skateboard enthusiast who brings boundless energy and creativity to his classroom at Thanda in KwaNzimakwe. Qiniso came to Thanda as a child in need of a space for learning as well as a new vision for his future. Now, in his new role as a young male educator in a field dominated almost entirely by women, Qiniso embraces the opportunity to serve as a role model for other young boys in his community.
Impact Pathway: Early Childhood Education
By age five, 90% of a child’s brain is already developed, so ensuring that children attend a preschool for ages 3-5 is essential for supporting their learning development. Unfortunately, only 40% of children in South Africa have access to early childhood development (ECD) programs. Even Ground supports projects like Thanda that work to ensure high-quality ECD programs are within reach for all children and families in South Africa. In 2024, Even Ground’s partner organizations Thanda, Siyabonga, and True North supported 2,043 children through preschool programs, ensuring they will be on track to start school. Even Ground has supported Thanda since they began in 2008.
The Story of Nosipho from Siyakwazi
Nosipho Gasa is a dedicated disability justice advocate and area manager with Siyakwazi, determined to transform perspectives on disability in her community. Growing up in Mzimhlophe, Nosipho’s journey led her back home to work first as a volunteer for children with disabilities. Through working closely with young children with disabilities and their families, Nosipho has become a fierce and committed leader and advocate for children with disabilities in her own community and beyond.
Impact Pathway: Health and Inclusion
In South Africa, more than half a million children with disabilities have been shut out of the country’s education system due to stigma, lack of supportive services, and economic and social inequalities. Even Ground supports projects like Siyakwazi, where children with disabilities receive therapy, services, and support to enable their holistic development. In 2024, Siyakwazi provided therapy and tailored specialized interventions to address the needs of 144 children with disabilities and their families, doubling the number of children reached in 2022. Siyakwazi staff also conduct more than 3,500 home visits annually for children with disabilities. Even Ground has supported Siyakwazi since 2018.