We believe youth are the solution to a youth problem
The Sozo Foundation is a nonprofit organisation founded in 2011.
Through our Education, Skills Training, Entrepreneurship and Enterprise programmes, we’re changing the narrative of youth unemployment in Vrygrond, Cape Town.
What started as an after-school tutoring programme for high school learners, has evolved into a multi-focussed and holistic approach to education, skills training, and resilience-building.
The result?
Young people are mastering skills and trades, accessing employment opportunities previously inaccessible.
High school learners are passing with distinction, going on to tertiary education.
Vibrant businesses are starting, providing households with a consistent source of income for the first time, ever!
These are the ripple effects of our work, and we would love you to be part of changing the tide of youth unemployment in South Africa.
Our mission is simple
Develop youth employability opportunities
Create pathways for youth to access employment
Equip youth with resilience skills to successfully hold on to employment
Our model is intentional
As a community-based organisation for over a decade, we have developed a unique approach to bridging the divide between the local community and the adjoining economic business park community.
By strategically acquiring two premises in the Capricorn Business Park, our skills and entrepreneurship centres are based inside a place of work, and students are training for their respective jobs and businesses of the future.
This means that young people now have access to an economic environment that was previously unavailable, which opens up a whole new world of potential, opportunities, and possibilities for them.
Through our model, we've created a hyper-local community ecosystem
Local youth employing, training, leading and recruiting youth.
Our context is complex
Vrygrond is a vibrant and multi-cultural township community in the Cape Flats of Cape Town, South Africa.
One of the oldest informal settlements in the Cape, Vrygrond was originally a fishermen’s village. Today, Vrygrond is home to a diverse but impoverished community of people from across the Cape, South Africa and the African continent.
With over 45,000 people living in this one square kilometre of land, the community faces several challenges, such as gang activity, unemployment, overpopulation, shack fires, volatility, gender-based violence (GBV), and extreme poverty.
Our impact is measurable
- 2023 -
Youth Livelihoods Directly Impacted Positively
High School Pass Rate
Employment Placement Rate
Youth employed by The Sozo Foundation
Self Generated Income
SOZO TRIBE
Our Tribe is essential
Our work wouldn’t be possible without our dedicated team, the Sozo Tribe. Over 75% of our staff are from the local community. We are passionate about raising role models from within the community.
For our work to be sustainable for years to come, forming deep and lasting relationships with community members is essential. This is why the Sozo Foundation will always have a community based footprint in Cape Town. We are part of the Vrygrond community and the Vrygrond community is part of us.
The Sozo Foundation is started
The Sozo Foundation is founded by Anton and Elana Cuyler with the Educentre Programme
2011
First Grade 12 Graduate
Our first Matriculant at Sozo Educentre graduates matric with a diploma pass.
2012
Eden Project Launched
Eden project trains women to grow their own vegetables, creating over 100 gardens in the community
2013
Education Hub Foundations Laid
The dream became a reality as the first foundations were laid by Sozonites and Sozo Tribe
2014
Education Hub Built
The first-ever dedicated youth education centre in Vrygrond is completed
2015
Youth Skills Programme Launched
A new era of hope for Vrygrond youth as the Skills Development programme is launched
2016
Sozo Foundation Wins Youth Excellence Award
Department of Social Development awards Sozo with the Gold Ministerial Youth Excellence Award
2017
First Social Enterprise Established
First social enterprise established: The Wild Goose Artisan Bakery
2018
General Education Diploma launched
Launch of the GED Programme to enable young people to complete their high school education
2019
Kingdom Builders Enterprise Launched
Our second social enterprise, Kingdom Builders, is established
2020
Dancing Goat Enterprise Launched
Mobile coffee social enterprise, Dancing Goat Roastery, launched
2021
Skills Hub Officially Opened
Minister Shana Fernandez (WCDSD) officiates the new Skills Hub in the Capricorn Business Park
2022
Genesis Hub Opened
The first local youth entrepreneurship hub was officially opened by our partners, the National Development Agency
2023
2024 Nexus Building Acquisition
Sozo acquires the Skills Hub Building in Capricorn Business Park with support from the Maria Marina Foundation
2024
Our systems are robust
As an organisation, we are continuously striving for innovative thinking in our systems, resulting in simpler, smoother, smarter processes to maximise capacity with excellent efficiency.
Our partners are friends
Through the support of donors, in-kind contributors and partners, the Sozo Foundation is able to collaborate to see the community of Vrygrond transformed. A big thank you to all of our donors and partners for your ongoing support.
Our Impact Reports are a celebration
Dive into our latest Annual Report to see the difference we’re making in Vrygrond. Packed with inspiring stories, achievements, and the progress of our programmes, it’s a testament to how far we’ve come—and where we’re headed.
