Grass Roots Projects
Projects that offer much needed support to orphaned animals, or to critically endangered wildlife tug at the heartstrings and grab headlines worldwide. However, at the heart of Cape Town, you’ll find a very dedicated individual, surrounded by his equally dedicated team, who have been working tirelessly to raise funds for a whole host of projects – many of which would struggle to catch the international visitor’s eye. We’re talking about our good friend James Fernie and his non-profit organisation ‘Uthando – Love South Africa’.
Improving lives in South Africa
James started on his career path as a law graduate and qualified attorney, before his love of travel led him into the tourism industry. He quickly realised the huge potential that tourism had to improve dramatically the lives of many of his fellow South Africans, and so Uthando was born. Uthando works with a whole host of projects, mostly in and around Cape Town, supporting a wide range of the area’s disadvantaged people - from education, song and dance schools for township children to projects that help with housing for the elderly, animal welfare or much needed support for those with HIV/Aids.
Community Initiatives
The Hout Bay Music Project introduces deprived children to the joy of music; Beauty for Ashes helps ex-offenders get back on track; the Amy Foundation aims to unlock creative talent in children from townships who otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity; Abalimi Bezekhaya teaches Cape Town’s unemployed how to be micro-farmers; the Neighbourhood Old Age Homes project provides pensioners with accommodation and much needed social and health care…the impressive list goes on.
Cultural Tours with a Difference
If you’re visiting Cape Town and would like to know more, James offers cultural tours with a difference. He takes small groups to visit typically 3 or 4 of the projects they support, to meet the fantastically enthusiastic people who run them and to see first hand the very real difference that Uthando and its supporters are making.
Please let us know if you’re interested, we’d be happy to arrange a tour.
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Contact us
Call us on 01904 866 033 or email:africa@knightonreeve.co.uk to plan your travel with a purpose.