True North Vrygrond

08/10/2026

Last week the True North team had the privledge of visiting the Valley of 1000 Hills in rural KwaZulu-Natal to train Project Hope SA on implementing the Rainbow Development Framework. This was the first time True North has run the full RDF training in another province and also in a rural area. The training was very successful and was a great learning for all involved. There is clearly massive need in KZN and we look forward to supporting Project Hope as they expand their initiative in their ECD community!

For the first time True North (www.true-north.co.za) has shared the...

19/09/2026

True North was honored to spend the day alongside fellow local leaders and NPO representatives, all focused on shifting our community from just surviving to truly thriving together.

Highlights from the day were:

Connecting over powerful storytelling and interactive table chat
Participating in a hands-on Asset-Mapping Workshop led by the Development Action Group (DAG)
Sharing ideas over a great networking lunch with our Ward 45 community partners
A big thank you to everyone who made the day so meaningful, and especially SOZO Foundation for the beautiful venue. Together, we are unlocking the full potential of Vrygrond!

09/09/2026

We are excited to be part of the rollout of Project Lucky, an inspiring early childhood development programme introduced by the Cape of Good Hope SPCA, designed to help young children develop empathy, kindness, compassion and respect for animals.

Several training sessions have been held in recent weeks and teachers are now confidently bringing these lessons into their classrooms. Our ECD community believes that teaching kindness starts early. By nurturing empathy and compassion in young children today, we are helping to build a kinder and more caring community for tomorrow.

A big thank you to the Cape of Good Hope SPCA for introducing this meaningful programme and for partnering with True North to bring this program to the Vrygrond and Overcome Heights community.

26/08/2026

We recently ran a training with the principals on responsible use of AI and its benefits. We covered the basics but importantly had good discussions on how to use it safely. The session wrapped up with principals setting up several useful tools to help them with their daily task. The tools should help give them more time to manage and support their schools while ensuring administrative tasks are done with less hassle.

06/08/2026

A heartfelt thank you to Springfield Convent Senior School and Megan McCurrach for your incredible support this Mandela Day.

As part of this special initiative, the learners generously made playdough for our True North ECD centres. What made this donation even more meaningful was that they didn’t simply deliver the playdough—they took the time to train our teachers on how to make playdough themselves and how to use it effectively as a learning tool in the classroom.

This practical, hands-on support will have a lasting impact on our teachers and the children they teach. Playdough is a wonderful resource that promotes creativity, fine motor development, language, early numeracy, and imaginative play, and our teachers are now better equipped to use it to enrich children’s learning experiences.

We are deeply grateful to Megan for continuing to invest in our centres and to the learners and staff of Springfield Convent High School for their generosity, enthusiasm, and commitment to making a difference. Your kindness and willingness to share your knowledge truly embody the spirit of Mandela Day.

30/07/2026

As we wrap up the first half of the year, we are excited to share True North’s 6-Month Activity Report (January – June). Please view it here,

Check out this Doc designed by Sivu Kwatsha.

23/07/2026

This Mandela Day, the incredible team at Steenberg Hotel and Spa went above and beyond by preparing freshly made sandwiches and donating porridge for the children at our ECD centres in Vrygrond.

Preparing food takes time, effort, and love—and that means the world to us. Your generosity not only fills little tummies but also warms hearts and reminds our community that kindness is shown through action.

Thank you for living the spirit of Nelson Mandela through your compassion and unwavering support. Your kindness makes a lasting difference, one meal and one smile at a time.

30/06/2026

Principals attended the Child Protection workshop where they have learnt so much around Child Safety, child abuse, warning signs, Do's and Don'ts and more importantly, the child disclosure process. The facilitator has also emphasized the importance of staff screening as well as sign in and out registers. Thanks to Safeline Child Abuse Treatment and Prevention Centre for making time and facilitating the workshop.

11/06/2026

Take a look at what we've been up to over the past year. We hope you enjoy reading our annual report

Dear friends, We're pleased  to share our 2025 Annual Report with you. This past year was not without its challenges - yet the courage and dedication of principals, teachers, partner organisations, and True North staff remained unwavering. Despite the challenges real progress was made in children...

10/06/2026

What a wonderful opportunity to celebrate Teachers' Play Day and to recognise the joy of engaging with our Early Childhood Development practitioners. Let us also remember the importance of maintaining an enjoyable and engaging approach to education. Thank you Dani Iñiguez