“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” - an African proverb
And so the more we can work together, the better for the South African Wine industry and its people, environment and financial sustainability.
The South African wine industry creates roughly 300 000 jobs, covers nearly 100 000 hectares of vineyards, and generates annual revenue of R49 billion annually.
The industry will put on one of its best showcases in October this year at the CTICC at the biggest exhibit of South African wines to the trade, viz Cape Wine 2022. Aptly, the theme will be Sustainability, focusing on People, the Planet and Prosperity #SUSTAINABILITY360.
Transformation of the industry is taking time. But there are a number of projects on the go which are contributing to the overall sustainability of the industry through education, distribution, ethical trade, fair trade, and facilitating trade, both locally and abroad.
We are proud to partner with the following organisations and the passionate people who drive them. They contribute a significant amount of their time, energy, and resources to a better future for South Africans.
Pinotage Youth Development Academy
Nikki Munro founded the Pinotage Youth Development Academy (PYDA) in 2012.
This energetic organisation has already seen 450 graduates come through their various wine-focused courses in Stellenbosch. If you need dedicated, hardworking and talented youth to help you take your company forward, then you will not be disappointed taking on any of their students.
At wine.co.za, we have an intern program where we take on a PYDA graduate for a year, and try to ensure they have a good all-round exposure to the wine industry. This year sees our third intern, Mlondolozi Mketo, who is doing great work with us. We have also had Leroy Matthee and Jamie-Lee Appolis with us through the years, and one of our past content editors, Yoliswa Masekwana, spent 3 years with us after she graduated. We highly recommend taking on their graduates.
To find out how your company can become a WorkPlace Partner, click HERE.
#launchingtalent
PYDA Graduates Yoliswa Masekwana and Jamie-Lee Appolis
Pebbles Project
The Pebbles Project was founded by Sophia Warner in 2004.
Sophia and her passionate team has made a huge difference in farming communities. They enrich the lives of disadvantaged children and families in the agricultural communities of the Western Cape. They focus on the entire life of the child and the challenging circumstances in which they live in order to make a significant and lasting difference.
Since their inception in 2004, they have impacted the lives of children and their families by providing support and intervention in five key areas:
- Education
- Health
- Nutrition
- Community
- Protection
Their areas of operation include Stellenbosch, Somerset West, Wellington, Citrusdal, and the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley in Hermanus.
#changinglives
Pebbles Project librarians Joan de Leeuw and Mariana Julius
Indaba Foundation
André Shearer founded the Indaba Foundation in 2015. The foundation is reimagining education for South Africa’s most vulnerable children by believing in quality early childhood development (ECD) for every child in the Cape Winelands.
They invest in world-class Montessori-based teacher training to implement world-standard Cambridge of Early Childhood Development investment model. This is done by mobilising a vibrant ecosystem that combines high-quality teacher training, innovative Proof of Concept initiatives, globally-relevant research programs, and a world-first Social Sustainability Seal.
Their work focuses explicitly on the South African wine industry’s footprint within the Cape Winelands.
This region has a legacy of inequalities: disenfranchised youth, racial segregation, and the world’s highest GINI coefficient. Approximately 50% of children below the age of five are affected by abject poverty. The region itself also deals with the highest prevalence rates of fetal alcohol syndrome worldwide.
All of these challenges act as significant barriers to children’s development. They hinder the children's ability to grow into self-sufficient and productive adults capable of contributing to society.
The foundation invests in upstream solutions for future generations while they continue to address today’s problems. Early investment in the education of children produces the greatest return to society through the individuals' increased social and economic productivity, societal contribution, environmental awareness, and individualised empowerment.
To learn more, watch André's interview with ENCA by clicking HERE.
StreetSmart South Africa
Margi Biggs established StreetSmart South Africa in 2005.
The organisation raises funds for street children programmes run by experienced and reputable agencies. Often these also include agencies that work with vulnerable children to prevent them from becoming street children.
The funds raised go towards family reunification, education, and skills training programmes for street children as well as children at risk of becoming street children. Funding programmes of this kind assists street children in normalising their lives and living a viable life in society.
Funds are raised through participating restaurants that agree to add a voluntary R5 to each table bill automatically. Diners are free to decline or donate more. During Covid-19 they launched a DineIn Donation system and wine.co.za will be making it possible for online wine shoppers to donate as they check out.
StreetSmart is unique in that 100% of funds donated in restaurants go to the beneficiary organisations.
Sponsorships and special fundraising events cover all StreetSmart's organisational expenses.
And the list goes on and on...
There is plenty to do to make a difference in our beautiful Cape Winelands and we invite you to share your good news stories with us. Click HERE to submit your stories or email our editor Jeanine Malan HERE.
There are plenty of good news stories about upliftment and transformation in the South African Wine Industry. The #wineforgood website, launched by wine.co.za in June 2016, hosts all the positive stories from the winelands, of which there are plenty. wine.co.za has made April a focus for #wineforgood stories. Share them far and wide and spread the good news about South African wine.
For more stories, visit www.wineforgood.co.za.