Zusakhe means "to build". It is a non-profit, non-partisan, non-governmental, organization which operates in the Dunoon semi-urban area of Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa. Dunoon is a reconstruction and development programme housing establishment for the poor near the Table View area. The majority of this community is poverty stricken, illiterate and un-employed. It is about 18km from the city centre and is situated along the N7.

Zusakhe is Registered as a Non-Profit Organization. Certificate can be viewed here.

“This is the kind of fast day I’m after: to break the chains of injustice, get rid of exploitation in the workplace, free the oppressed, cancel debts. What I’m interested in seeing you do is: sharing your food with the hungry, inviting the homeless poor into your homes, putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad, being available to your own families. Do this and the lights will turn on, and your lives will turn around at once.”

Isaiah 58:6,7

Gumboot dancers at CTICC

With donations received from AIMA charity event held in Cape Town recently the Zusakhe Gum Boot dance team were invited to perform at an industry conference at the CT ICC on Wednesday 18 November 2009.

The dancers were ‘kitted’ out with funds received from the event and although it was only a brief 15 minute performance (over the lunch interval); the donors and guests enjoyed the show tremendously!

As Ruth Forssman (the organiser) said: ‘It was a wonderful way of paying tribute to the donors; reminding the fortunate of the needs of the less fortunate out there’.

The Big Brothers Big Sisters Programme South Africa

This mentoring programme was established between unrelated adults and youth.

There is nothing as heartwarming, comprehensible and reassuring as an adult befriending and supporting youths. Zusakhe are excited about this initiative.  In an era when society has little confidence in social interventions, mentoring can provide solid outcomes for adolescents with regards to: substance abuse, violent behaviour, school performance and family relationships which is as equal in importance as its intuitive appeal. Mentoring is an undiluted social intervention connecting two strangers of different age groups, supporting and monitoring their relationships through the Big Brothers Big Sisters South Africa distilled-from-experience set of operational guidelines and clearly defined match procedures.

Mentoring at Big Brothers Big Sisters is both a discrete programme and a broader idea that individual change and progress is fundamentally about having other individuals care, support, tend to and, most importantly, guide on a one-to-one basis. There is no substitute.

Big Brothers Big Sisters International distinguishes itself from other mentoring programmes in that it has rigorous standards of programme implementation and programme management, which all Big Brothers Big Sisters International agencies have to be compliant with for the country’s programme to be accredited.

Update 29 July 2009: BBBS is progressing well! All forms for the volunteers have been completed, they have now been interviewed and 'approved'. So all is well on track!

Our Mission

To reach out to those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS in the communities of Doornbach and Dunoon by networking with other organizations.

HIV and AIDS

  • To raise an awareness of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases through workshops and campaigns in the community. 
  • To build strong relationships through confidential counseling and encourage the promotion of  ARV treatment support as well as V.C.T. (Volunteer Counseling and Testing) in the community, which will lead to disclosure and acceptance as well as positive living.

Kids and Teenagers

  • To provide basic educational development and life orientated activities (like drama, music and sport) for small kids as well as teenagers.

Home Base Care Workers/ Support Group

  • To build effective support groups that will holistically address people in distress and encourage a healthy empowered community through training, placement, supervision and mentorship.
  • To give them skills training and development to foster personal values and morals.
  • To create a sustainable income for families suffering from HIV/AIDS .
  • To supply the sick and needy with healthy food.
  • To create a culture of self sufficiency and self reliance. 

Our Manager - Patricia Fekema

Patricia has overall management of the centre and is responsible for all that happens here. She has an indefatigable spirit and a wonderful support team that help her at the centre.   

Home Carers - Facilitator Monwabisa

They are being trained and will receive bicycles to help them get around faster to their patients. Each carer will be able to look after twenty patients a month.That is four per day each day of the week. They visit each paient to bathe feed and check on them each week .

They then make sure they are taking their medication (ARV) as compliance is essential or they become drug resistant. They will see what grants need applying for and if kids go to school or not. If they need créche or aftercare they come to our facilty. Click here to see them up close.