Community Keepers

27/08/2026

... so that learning and development can prosper 🤓⭐️

25/08/2026

~ Mental Health First Aid training in Stellenbosch ~

We implement a unique model of training first, and then recruiting.

This way, no matter who gets the job, we equip many with the knowledge and skills to understand and respond to emotions.

Mental health for all, by all.

Yesterday, 18 people attended our training at Devon Valley Primary School.

21/08/2026

Mandela said small actions add up to big change - and these 67 minutes at Luckhoff High School proved it.

A little teamwork, a lot of heart, and a lesson that will stick around long after the brooms are put away.

"This Mandela Day, our Community Keepers team rolled up sleeves alongside teachers, learners, and parents for a whole-school clean-up - it turned into so much more than just tidying up.

We brought the cleaning materials, organised the activities, and got the day's energy going.

This year's theme was "I Am A Cleaner," so our facilitators had teachers dressing up and getting into character. Who says cleaning can't be fun?

The best part, though? Our team teamed up with the school secretary (basically the heart of the school) to lead the charge. Her energy was contagious - soon everyone was moving, laughing, and genuinely enjoying themselves.

By the end of it, the school wasn't just cleaner. Learners got to see what service actually looks like when people show up for each other.

You could feel the pride growing."

20/08/2026

Bathrooms can often become hotspots for disruptive behaviour at school - but they don't have to be.

When we intentionally create spaces of care, even the most overlooked corners of a school can become part of a supportive, nurturing community. 🌱

That's exactly what our Learner Committee at Cloetesville High School set out to do - they created positive affirmation posters for fellow learners, now displayed in the boys' and girls' bathrooms.

The posters caught the eye of one of the ground staff members, who praised how beautiful and eye-catching they are - he's asked for more to be added, and even encouraged the boys to create their own.

Small acts, big impact. 💛

18/08/2026

GET TO KNOW

Our Patron, Sherlin Barends 🎙️

We sat down with Sherlin to talk about her teenage years, her passion for people, and why Community Keepers is a cause that is close to home.

Watch until the end for Sherlin’s message to her younger self - and maybe the message you need to hear today too 🩵

18/08/2026

17/08/2026

Restoring worth and dignity 💛

14/08/2026

“But now Fenn knew
how to wait …
how to breathe …
and how to slow the
storm inside”

Thank you Heartwood Tales The Heartwood Foundation for this beautiful gift.

In the Heartwood Tales world, feelings are noticed, named and gently understood. The characters each experience emotions in ways that children recognise, and the stories give them simple words and small choices.

We are excited to use this resource - to equip learners with tools to pause, ask for help, and recognise what is happening inside them.

13/08/2026

A 2024 study by Dr Heleen Hofmeyr (Stellenbosch University) revealed that 50% of all educators had considered leaving the profession due to stress from managing learners’ psychosocial issues.

When the whole school environment becomes a safe and supportive space, everyone becomes active contributors to the environment of care.