Trusts and foundations: an overview of GAGA UK

Goodwill and Growth for Africa (GAGA) would be delighted to be invited to tell our story for trusts, foundations and organisations who are passionate about improving the lives of the most vulnerable children and their communities, who share our charitable aims, philosophy and objectives of working together with children, communities, supporters and partners to bring real change.  We believe that every child has the right to a positive future so we direct our resources to work with trusted organisations delivering education and healthcare to orphaned and vulnerable children and their caregivers.  Our primary area of focus is in the province of KwaZulu Natal in South Africa, where over the years we have helped over 500 children to attend primary school, over 100,000 people a year to receive primary healthcare and 16 students achieve a degree or diploma.  GAGA originated in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa when UK students who volunteered at an orphanage in the Valley of 1000 Hills returned to the UK and established a charity in 2002.  Since then we appointed a local project coordinator and have built a strong network of communities, individuals and organisations.  Rooting our initiatives into local communities provides us with the advice and local perspective that enhances our decision-making and our impact. Recently we saw the need to support vulnerable children in Moshi, Tanzania and pre and postpartum expectant mothers in Bo, Sierra Leone, working with local partners which have direct links to the most deprived, share our charitable objects, as well as strong monitoring and accountability processes. It gives us the assurance that our funding will deliver tangible benefits for the beneficiaries and the initiatives will be well managed on their side.  

Examples of Projects Funded by Foundations and Trusts

GAGA UK have been delighted to secure funding from trusts and foundations for specific projects over the years of our operation.  Funding of this nature means that the projects can reach much wider communities, deepen our support and establish the necessary infrastructure more quickly.

Examples of how the funding was used includes the provision of a Safe Park in South Africa which offers children from the community a safe place to play and develop. The local partner in this initiative, 1000 Hills Community Helpers, told us:

 "the safe park is now in full use by the community children and our school children.  We have weekly sports days and physical activities. Fitness is also done on the field now as part of our school day.  During play time the children are having a blast"

The Safe Park is also used by the adults in the community, as part of the physical therapy for people with TB and HIV.  The provision of the Safe Park through a successful funding application meant that monies were not diverted from the primary healthcare clinic or the preschool developmental activities but that core activities benefited from the safe and engaging outdoor space.

In July 2023, The Archer Trust awarded GAGA UK a generous grant of indicating that it was for general use. The board of trustees approved using it for one of our amazing partner projects, Likhon iThemba, in South Africa. Likhon iThemba were in desperate need of some funding for their safe house called HOLAH (House of Love and Hope). HOLAH is registered as a place of safety for abandoned, vulnerable and disabled babies and children.

HOLAH were in need of several items for their Toddler House and using the generous grant from the Archer Trust we were able to provide them with the following:

• Security gate for the Toddler House entrance
• 10 x wall heaters
• Pillows and duvet inners for the children

We no longer worry about safety and security, or about getting through the long and difficult winters in South Africa without any heating provisions. We can focus on the children’s health and happiness, and the children in turn are happier. 

In November 2023, The Jephcott Charitable Trust generously awarded GAGA UK a grant towards the build of a new and desperately needed additional classroom block at Kilimanjaro Young Girls in Need School in Moshi Tanzania. 

The goal of the new classroom block at KYGN was to alleviate the pressure of large class sizes, allowing teachers to give more individual attention to students and thus improving students’ grades, exam scores and general wellbeing at school, giving them a better quality education and opportunity to break out of the cycle of poverty. Here's the classroom as the main building work was completed and the children were starting to benefit from the new space!

If you believe that your trust or foundation could help us to make a long lasting, sustainable difference by contributing funding to one of our partner projects, please get in touch using our declaration-of-interest form.