OUR MISSION
We as the HopeTown community
love God and love people
by creating opportunities for
holistic development
through education,
skills training
&
mentoring.
OUR INVESTEMENT
Ocean View
We invest in a community called Ocean View, where about 40’000 coloured (a South African term used for those who are not “black” or “white”) people live. Ocean View is built on a hillside with a truly lovely view of the ocean! The coloured people are lively, loud, good entertainers and have a love for good music and dance.
There are though also multiple challenges facing the people here. High unemployment, drugs, crime, prostitution and young people falling out of school are daily issues we encounter. Be believe God is busy doing something special! God is moving here even if it’s not always seen.
We want to bring hope and perspective to the young people at risk. In 2016 we founded HopeTown a youth community and youth movement in Ocean View. We gather with different groups in our HopeTown Base and eat together, listen to each other and to God and experience a kind of a family what supports each other and where people find a place of belonging. Our family members are not those you would easily find in church. Gang members, teenage mother and fathers, school drop outs and young people who struggle with addiction learn to love each other and are discovering Life & God. Our HopeTown family is diverse, wild and imperfect and hungry for change.
Our HopeTown family is diverse, wild and imperfect and
hungry for change.
We believe unconventional love means to accept the fact that the people are on a journey to find true identity. Out of experience we know, this journey is often longer then we hoped for. We invest with a long term perspective and support in a holistic way.
OUR SERVICES
Healthy Community
HopeTown is a community of young people who want to change and grow in life. Whatever project we do or will do in the future, it needs to serve the purpose to build healthy community and to establish stable support structures for young people coming from hard places. In theses community groups, we create a place of belonging and share life in a simple way.
We meet in many different age groups during the week (kids, teenagers, youth, young adults) and build into healthy trustworthy relationships. We cook amazing meals, eat together, serve each other, support in crisis, pray for each other and learn more about life. The community aspect is the foundation for stability and healthy growth in a young persons life.
Facts: 150 kids and teens every week in our community groups / Hopetown family total +/- 200 people
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HopeTown Internship program
There is huge unemployment among the young people in Ocean View. Those who have dropped out of school, often have no chance to get a job. We believe this doesn’t need to be the end. We offer a opportunity for young unemployed people to change their lives. It is a three step programm to change the narrative of their circumstances.
1st step: Basic Internship 12 - 24 months (40h per week)
We offer youth a full time basic internship, based on their eagerness to learn and change, even though they may still be challenged by abuse, gangsterism or addiction. We journey with them by creating a healthy community, teaching hard and soft skills and offering mentorship on a weekly basis.
The Basic Internship helps to stabilise and aims to spark passion for life.
The hard skills include: Sewing, Leather, Artistry, Jewellery, Beauty, Screen Printing and basic computer literacy. Soft skills include character development, job readiness, life-skills, and serving the community. We integrate the interns into our youth programmes as helpers. They are given the opportunity to support leaders and learn from them. This aspect is a very important element, as it creates a sense of purpose within their lives. Serving others fosters empathy for people and provides the opportunity to overcome a victim mentality.
Included: Small attendance-based weekly incentive.
2nd step: Industrial Internship 12 Months (40h per week)
Once the Basic Internship is successfully completed, these interns can apply for the Industrial Internship, a workplace experience within HopeTown in the area of Jewellery, Sewing and Leather. It includes 4,5 days per week in their chosen skill and half a day in serving kids and teens in our youth centre. The elements included at this step involve in-depth training in the chosen skill, character development, job shadowing, job readiness training and weekly mentorship. The industrial internship is the bridge into a workplace environment where one learns to adapt to work pressure and workplace behaviour.
Included: Attendance based monthly stipend.
3rd step: Work Readyness Experience HopeTown Industry
12 months (43h per week)
After successfully completing the Industrial Internship, interns can apply for HopeTown’s Job Readiness Programme.
During this year, they gain experience in different areas of work through outside assignments, job shadowing and practical training with different companies. They also work more intensively on HopeTown products to strengthen their skills.
Mentoring and additional courses continue throughout the programme, helping interns develop workplace skills, confidence and responsibility.
The programme prepares young people for the next step into employment.
Facts: 16 full time trainees in the Internship Program
4th step: Industrial Job Creation - Employment in HopeTown
12 months (43h per week)
Once the Basic Job Readyness training is completed, the intern can apply for a job experience within HopeTown Industry Production. This workplace experience is guided and led by experienced industry leaders who continue to train our trainees in workplace behaviour. The work contract with HopeTown provides trainees an understanding of how to succeed in a job within the world of skills. This experience in work-life, builds the bridge into long-term work experience within the industry and self-sustainability in life.
They maintain access to a personal mentor during the year, to process the work experience and support job readiness.
Included: contract, monthly basic salary
HopeTown Student Hub
We provide a safe space for struggling High Schoolers from Ocean View High to learn and grow in their academics. On three afternoons our centre is open to support, encourage and tutor the young people in their homework and help them to achieve better marks.
We challenge them to grow, train their learning skills, to get a vision for education and qualifications and to help them in finding direction towards their professional future.
Facts: 18 Students are currently enrolled in our student hub program.
HopeTown Discipleship House "Eden"
Vision for the house:
Our purpose is to provide a Christ-centered, safe, and structured living environment in Ocean View for young people at risk from Ocean View.
Mission:
Through assisted living, we support young people for 1-3 years, with clear structures and healthy parenthood on their way to an independent way of life. Our care empowers them to enter a learning process to make one's own healthy choices. Work integration and household training are part of the internal training of the young people.
Facts: 7 trainees, the leadership couple and 2 volunteers currently living in the discipleship house.
HopeTown Kids & Teens Activities
We love to invest in girls, and boys and use different activities (dance, sewing, art, teensnights...) to build a healthy community. For example, dance is a great tool to reach their hearts. It is not so much about being a good dancer but more to learn to be confident in your body and to love yourself. We help the girls and boys to grow in character and self-respect and allow them to speak about themselves.
Facts: 13 different programs in the afternoon and evening every week
HopeTown Social Business
We got the amazing opportunity to run our own shop from the Imhoff Farm property in Kommetjie. All our products (t-shirts, hoodies, kids clothes, leather products, jewellery, cards and many other articles) you will find in our beautiful shop.
Every Rand from our profit stays in Ocean View to support the youth activities and training in the community.
Come and see our trendy products... you will not regret it.
By the way... we also have our products in 10 different shops in South Africa, Germany and Switzerland. These shops sell our products on our behalf and they love our style and quality. We are proud to be represented all over the world with our hand made products.
Facts: 2 HopeTown Shop in Cape Town / 1 Online store for South Africa / 5 shops selling our products on consignment base.
HopeTown Academy
HopeTown Education provides an alternative school that is aimed at youth who have dropped out of the formal education system or who are at the edge of dropping out of school. We want to create a schooling environment that fosters a safe place of belonging and a positive outlook on learning. It is a holistic curriculum that includes a basic academic framework, skills training, sports activities, creativity, and life skills.
We believe that providing an alternative school system for youth who have dropped out or who are on the edge of dropping out of school would bridge the gap and ensure young people can access further education and training opportunities as well as future employment prospects.
We started the school in February 2024 with a pioneer class of 5 students taught with a holistic curriculum that includes an academic base, skills training, sports activities, fostering creativity and life skills.
We believe that this investment and individualised academic support will significantly change their future!
See here for more information!
Facts: 11 Students in the Foundation classes
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HopeTown Chreche
The HopeTown Crèche provides safe, loving and reliable childcare for the young children of mothers who are participating in HopeTown’s internship training programme.
Many of these young mothers come from challenging backgrounds and are working hard to gain skills, work experience and the confidence they need to build a more independent future.
Having their children safely cared for at the HopeTown Crèche allows them to fully participate in their training without the constant worry of finding childcare.
While the mothers are learning and developing their workplace skills, their children are cared for in a safe and nurturing environment where they can play, learn and grow.
The programme also supports the mothers in becoming confident and responsible parents.
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ABOUT US
We are a diverse team coming from all kinds of backgrounds and spheres of life.
We were and some of us still are teachers, bankers, artists, youth workers, business people, pastors, toolmakers, life coaches, hairdressers, social workers...
But we all have something in common. We love people and want to see them grow into their full potential. This is our calling, this is our passion, and this became our common ground. We love each and everyone’s investment!
Tamaryn
Kids / Teens Community
Basic Internship Team Member
Arlene
Head of Education
HopeTown Academy Principal
Student Hub / Social Worker
Samantha
Centre Manager Ocean View
Basic Sewing Skills Training Manager
Sean
Basic Internship Team Leader
Doris
HopeTown Co - Founder
CEO HopeTown
Janalee
HopeTown Academy
Teacher Assistant
Student Hub Leader
Roshni
Sewing Production
Industrial Job Creation Stream
Jo-Anne
Basic Sewing Skills Trainer
Sewing Production
Stef
HopeTown Co - Founder
CFO HopeTown
Alexandra
Skills Trainer / Basic Internship Leader
Chester
HopeTown Education Support
Janica
Hospitality & Customer Support
Kim
Art Education for kids
and teens
Candice
Temporary Creche Support
Sonia
Kitchen & Cleaning
Sarah
Kids - and Teens Development
Mentoring
Stefanie
Creche Leader
Nikkei
HopeTown Shop
Teens Girls Club
Emily
Manager HopeTown Industry
Imhoff Farm
Linda
HopeTown Academy Teacher
Martin
Skills Trainer
HopeTown Industry
Mareliese
Art Education in the Internship
Elias
Carpentry Skills Trainer
Floorball Coach
Marvin
Kids & Teens Support
Industrial Job Creation Stream
Jo
Basic Internship Team
Member / Education Support
Craig
Academy Teacher
Nadia
Skills Trainer
Basic Internship Leader
Zoe
HopeTown Academy Tutor
Linzay
Shop Assistant
Alisha
Shop Assistant
Nadine
Leather Skills Trainer
Industrial Centre
Raynaldo
Leather Production
International Volunteering in HopeTown
Are you ready to learn and to serve Jesus in a different background then your own country? Would you like to walk with us and learn from what we are doing? We'd love to give you the opportunity to come and work with us in Ocean View among our HopeTown community.
If you have at least 3 months or more we would love to meet you and to find out if this could be your next step.
Send us an email and we can tell you more about this exciting and life changing experience!
OUR STORY
SUPPORT US
"If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together."
African proverb
Do you like what we do? Do you believe in change for today’s struggling youth? Do you want to help us to spread hope? We need people who are ready to invest. This can be in different areas and with different possibilities. Please contact us if you would like to join our support team.
Finance
We need people and companies who believe in change in Ocean View. People who invest with their finances, to make the work and the investment into these young people possible.
We are a registered NPO with PBO status and love to become part of your CSI (Corperate Social Investement). If you are interested in a partnership, please contact us here.
Support within South Africa for monthly or sporadic support:
HopeTown Network NPO
FNB
Branch: 250655
HopeTown Network: 63027320009
Reference: HopeTown
Swift: FIRNZAJJ
Don't wait to make a difference!
You can donate right now with your phone or credit card! Use Snapscan!
Support from Switzerland or Europe:
EBAN: CH26 0900 0000 8001 4986 5
Postkonto: 80-14986-5,
Campus für Christus Schweiz, 8005 Zürich
SWIFT-Code (BIC): POFICHBEXXX
Mitteilung / Zahlungszweck: Hopetown - Südafrika
Click here for donations in Switzerland (please tick the HopeTown box)
practical help
We need people who help us to achieve our goals and visions. Practical help is needed in nearly all areas of our services. Tutoring, teaching life skills, job creation, donations for our Hope Education Centre, food for our community meals and many other things.
Do you want to come on board as a volunteer? Wonderful! We have application guidelines in place, to help you to find the right place within HopeTown.
Prayer
We believe in a God who is moved through our intercession and loves our prayers. There are many things we can’t do through our work or finance, but through prayers. Would you like to invest in this next generation through prayer? We would love to send you our prayer requests.
Online SHOP
We are selling amazing hand printed T-Shirts and beautiful jewellery, made in Cape Town and not in China!
Check it out www.hopetownindustry.co.za
CONTACT US
We value connection and relationships.
Contact us, if you are interested in volunteering in HopeTown, if you like to donate towards our cause, partner with us for some projects or if you like to come to Ocean View to visit us.
We are open and love to meet you in person.
Partners
We are part of Campus für Christus /Agape International in Switzerland. This is a movement of like minded people with the same heartbeat for the kingdom of God.
Situated on the Cape Point route, Imhoff Farm is the ideal destination for locals and tourists wishing to experience the authentic charm and generosity of an original Cape homestead.
The historic Werf (Dutch for farmyard) is the heart of the farm, offering a host of experiences, restaurants and shopping.
Imhoff Farm is partnering with us and supports us in a very generous way.
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Since December 2020 we are now present with a physical shop on the farm and we are selling all our products from the skills trainings to customers from all over the world.
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Since January 2024, we also have two more skills training production spaces on the farm, where we train our second year industrial interns and produce amazing products.
We are very gratful for this amazing partnership with Red Cliff Property.
Floorball4all is a global movement of people who want to help children and young people in difficult social environments in a meaningful and sustainable way. They are shaping lives and making a lasting difference through Floorball.
Floorball4all helps us to develop more coaches and provides us with the necessary tools to run meaningful sessions in the community and provides the equipment to play the sport.
Open Studios Kommetjie / Art Community
Open Studios Kommetjie is an annual weekend event in our neighbourhood village of Kommetjie, Cape Town. Art lovers have the opportunity of visiting professional art studios of more than 20 accomplished artists, each presenting a solo exhibition in their studio. The artist's community who is running this event chose HopeTown as the beneficiaries for their give-back project. We are very honoured to partner with them.
The next Open Studio event in Kommetjie will be from the 29.November - 1.December 2024, 10h00 to 17h00.
www.openstudioskommetjie.com/give-back-project
The Deckle Edge
We have a wonderful creative partner at our side. The Deckle Edge in Cape Town is a huge supply store for all our creative needs from Paper, Acrylic Paint, to many other products. HopeTown can buy the products to a reduced rate and we have a section in the store where we can sell our own products. They also have a donation box in the store where you can donate material to HopeTown. They help us in a practical way to raise awareness for our cause. Visit their store and see how you dive into a space of creativity with thousands of creative products, including paper, art & craft materials and graphic supplies.
They are located at 13 Brickfield Road, Salt River, Cape Town
The Desmond Tutu MPILO Health Club
We have a partnership with the Desmond Tutu Foundation Mpilo Health Club, located close to our area. We are able to train our interns and students of the Academy in their facility. They can use the professional gym, the health clinic and the astro turf. We get professional sports coaching as part of the deal. We are grateful for this great partnership.
https://desmondtutuhealthfoundation.org.za/what-we-do/mpilo-health-park/
Dream Higher
We have a partnership with a Cape Town based social initiative and registered public benefit organisation which strives to uplift at-risk youth by offering long-term climbing program - building confidence, bridging social divides, forming connections with the natural world and building a more inclusive climbing community. Our interns and Academy students have access to the professonial climbing gym (Bloc11) and can improve their skills on a weekly basis. This is an amazing partnership for our training department.
Unashemedly Ethical is a NGO based in Stellenbosch. We are part of them as we agree that ethics is our guide, courage is our path.
They are a global movement aimed at transforming leaders by inspiring and empowering individuals, families, organisations, communities and countries across the globe to embrace and uphold principles of ethics, values and clean living. www.unashamedlyethical.com
Sunrise Church
Sunrise Church is a local independent Church in our neigbourhood located in the Generation School. Our HopeTown Eden Community and quite a few other team members are part of this Church and we love this deep & beautiful connection and partnership.
Connect Network
Connect Network is a collaborative network of NPOs and churches working together for women and children at risk, to see communities transformed in South Africa.
Surf Emporium, located on the iconic Muizenberg beachfront at Surfers Corner, is a hub for ocean adventure and community. Offering an accredited Surf and SUP School, a high-quality equipment rental centre, a retail store with leading Surf and SUP brands, and a Vida e Caffè - all under one roof - it’s a place where surfing culture and excellence meet.
In 2025, HopeTown partnered with Surf Emporium to open new horizons for our Academy Students, Interns, and youth. Through this partnership, they enjoy world-class surf lessons, water safety training, environmental education, and access to surf gear - including wetsuits - completely free of charge for HopeTown.
Surf Emporium’s commitment to social upliftment runs deep. Their hands-on investment in disadvantaged communities reflects a genuine heart for change, making waves of opportunity and transformation far beyond the shoreline.
We are super grateful for this amazing partnership which will strengthen our youth initiatives.
We also work with many other organisations in our area such as:
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The Message Trust Mowbray for organisational support and know-how exchange. www.message.org.za,
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King of Kings Church for spiritual support. www.kingofkings.org.za,
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The Sozo Foundation in Capricorn for organisational support and know-how exchange.
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Bright Hope pregnancy counseling network Email: brighthopecrisis@gmail.com or WhatsApp 068 232 6450.
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The Family Counseling Centre in Fish Hoek www.familycounsellingcentre.co.za
