“The Concepts Collection Team recently joined inspirational CEO James Fernie from Uthando, translated as "Love" in Zulu, on another day in the sprawling, impoverished township of Khyaletisha, immersing ourselves in some of the community projects that we help fund but also incorporate into the incentives and group activities we create for our international clients.”

Corporate Social Responsibility is rightly high on company agenda’s around the world and when visiting Southern Africa for incentive trips or conferences, many of our clients are keen to contribute to some of the regions social and economic challenges. In our own backyard of Cape Town we work with closely non-profit organisation Uthando (Translated as “Love” in Zulu), not only sponsoring their work ourselves, but incorporating it into the incentives and group activities we create for our international clients.

The aim of Uthando is to raise funds and other forms of assistance for community development projects in South Africa and we think they are doing a spectacular job thanks to the efforts of their inspirational CEO James Fernie. Our team recently joined James on another day in the sprawling, impoverished township of Khyaletisha, immersing ourselves in some of the community projects that we help fund.

Always a hugely humbling, inspiring and uplifting experience as usual we met some richly talented and passionate people doing great work for their communities. Starting at the Ekhaya eKhasi Art and Education Centre we witnessed skills development projects in manufacturing giftware to be shipped to the US. From there it was on to Abalimi Bezekhaya – The Planters of Home, a jaw dropping Urban agriculture project now employing thousands of locals in growing vegatables on a large scale to help provide at least 400 families with fresh produce. As well a training and skills development the project is now selling produce to some of the top hotels in Cape Town! Next up was the truly inspirational Thokozani Brothers a youth development project empowering youth through music. Their choir had our team on their feet and dancing in seconds and it was an emotional and engaging moment.

The day ended at Dance For All– a project close to our hearts- using the medium of dance this outreach community project trains young people into professional dancers and our team were treated to an impromptu ballet show from some of the students.

We also had a surprise up our sleeve sponsoring 5 tickets for selected students to see the Moscow state ballet about to perform in Cape Town.

Working with organisations like Uthando we tailormake private tours (for groups of any size) and create experiences that are hugely authentic, uplifting, fun, inspirational, interactive and meaningful. For many guests engaging with these projects are often the most memorable part of their trip to Africa.