Thanda

Providing a holistic response to the critical needs of children in rural Mtwalume, KZN

In 2008, Thanda was founded in an effort to fill the gaps for children where schools, social services, and communities had been stretched thin. What started as a basic model for after-school support has evolved into a holistic approach to community development. Today, we provide Educational & Organic Farming development programmes that impact over 14,500 individuals in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

20/10/2026

At Thanda, Reading Lives EVERYWHERE!

It's not just in the classrooms — it's in everything we do!
During Home Visits — we share stories that bring families together
In our Baby Programmes — we spark love for books from day one
In Workshops & Staff Trainings — we learn, grow, and lead through reading.
In Inclusion — every child finds their voice in the story.
In Child & Youth Development — we build confidence, resilience & critical thinking
Reach out to Read — we turn pages into life lessons .
For us, a book is never just a book.

It’s curiosity. It’s perspective. It’s empathy. It’s understanding.

What is your favourite book and why?

16/10/2026

Back to School! Back to Reading!

We are so happy to be back in schools for the 4th term. Our Literacy Programme children are ready and eager to learn… sounding out words, learning new sounds and reading them out loud.

Our reading champions (the name our facilitators are known by) are passionate and dedicated to helping young minds read for meaning and develop an enduring love for books.

Masifundeni sonke! Let's read together! 😀📚

09/10/2026

What a beautiful Friday we had!

Last Friday was nothing short of amazing as we hosted an inspiring exhibition with our incredible Siyazazi Programme! The morning consisted of a dramatic performance, song, dance, a fashion show and many incredible displays of work created by the children throughout the year.

The energy was unmatched — filled with smiles, great performances, talent and beautiful connections.

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who showed up, supported, and made the day a success. Your presence truly meant so much to the children, who spent many days working on this event!

Sibonga asiphezi! 💜

07/10/2026

Sharing the harvest, sharing the love!

One of the things we love about our farming programme is seeing the food grown in our community make its way to children who need it most.

Recently, our Food Security & Economic Development (FSED) team supplied fresh, nutritious vegetables from our Nisela Organic Farming Programme to Siyakwazi, helping them provide healthy meals for the children attending their programmes.

It’s a great example of what community collaboration can look like in simple terms: food grown by local farmers, shared with a partner organisation, and enjoyed by children.

A big thank you to our FSED team and our hard-working farmers for making it possible, and to Siyakwazi for the important work they do supporting young children with disabilities.

24/09/2026

Heritage isn’t only about where WE come from. It’s about learning to appreciate, respect and celebrate where OTHERS come from too.

Some examples from this month:
Thandukwazi - As part of our curriculum, our Thandukwazi children have been learning more about Mexican culture, while getting to experience a taste of some of its traditional foods!
Imbewu - Our Imbewu ECD celebrated Heritage month in their own way.

Children and teachers came together to showcase the beautiful diversity within our very own community. From cultural practices and traditions to food, clothing and stories, it was a wonderful reminder that our differences are something to be celebrated.

18/09/2026

Our newly renovated space was filled with joy and laughter as our Inclusion Programme participants explored the theme "My Community.”

Together, we learnt about the essential workers who keep our communities safe and cared for, including doctors, nurses, and police officers. The children had great fun bringing the theme to life through dressing up in uniforms and paraphernalia associated with these jobs.

16/09/2026

We are thrilled to share our newly renovated space!

The TRC (Training and Recreation Centre) has always been one of our hubs at Thanda’s Community Centre. It plays host to teacher trainings, in-week and weekend programmes and an office area too.

After an exciting renovation the space looks and feels completely new!
Previously it felt a tad dark and cold.

NOW it has been completely transformed into a bright and inspiring space! Wide shutter doors let sunlight pour in, a beautiful reading corner and bookshelf wall offer a cosy spot for research and reading, and an IT hub and comfortable hot desk set-up are perfect for concentrating on tasks and getting computer-based work done.

The change is truly remarkable and we are so excited to see how this warm and welcoming space impacts those who make use of it every day!

11/09/2026

Big news! Our first Thanda Antenatal group has completed all 10 visits!

6 mamas have already welcomed their babies and 5 are exclusively breastfeeding — now moving to our Intensive Baby Programme!

The journey continues with our post-natal
programme! Siyaziqhenya ngani bo mame bethu.

09/09/2026

Youth flexing their creative muscles!

Our Grade 8+ skills programme is putting their skills into practice with pride? From building a cupboard from scratch in carpentry to turning fabric into fashion with our fashion design elective programme, the practical skills they are learning at Thanda are being put to excellent use already!

07/09/2026

At Thanda we prioritise environmental consciousness and our Solar Panels and Water Tanks provide essential stability at our Thanda Community Centre.

Solar power ensures that our children and staff have light and electricity for programme activities (like sewing, computers, film study and more) even during municipal power outages. Water tanks ensure that we are never without necessary means for sanitation and hydration. Plus, the tanks ensure that our food gardens (a beloved element of our ECD curriculum) survive the harsh dry season.

We understand that caring for the environment in small ways such as these is caring for each other too. Steps towards environmental sustainability today - Resilience and increased impact tomorrow.

Address

Port Shepstone

Telephone

+27396991253

Website

http://www.thanda.org/

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