There are plenty of good news stories from the South African Winelands. The #wineforgood campaign, launched by wine.co.za in June 2016, is all about sharing these positive and uplifting stories. We dedicate the month of April to our #wineforgood campaign each year, sharing good news stories from the South African wine industry every day.
We chose to highlight our #wineforgood campaign in April because it's the month in which we celebrate Freedom Day (27 April). On this day we commemorate our first democratic elections in South Africa on 27 April 1994. And this year, we're celebrating the 30th anniversary of our democracy!
Freedom Day is a reminder of our nation's incredible potential for positive change. There are many wine producers and winelands organisations that are working tirelessly to create a brighter future for the industry and its people. We raise a glass to them, and gladly share their stories.
Here are some winelands organisations that are really making a difference in in the South African Winelands:
4 Organisations making a difference in the South African Winelands
Pinotage Youth Development Association
The Pinotage Youth Development Academy (PYDA), based in the Cape Winelands, exists to work with young, talented South Africans for irrevocable personal change and meaningful economic outcomes. It develops youth between the ages of 18 and 34 years from under-resourced areas for employment mainly in the wine industry.
The Academy’s work is founded on innovative programmes which combine personal development skills with industry-specific vocational training and practical work experience.
wine.co.za has been a proud supporter and media partner of PYDA since 2015. We solidified our relationship with the academy even further in 2017 by launching a 12-month paid internship program for PYDA graduates.
Three PYDA graduates who have worked at wine.co.za: Mlondolozi "Frank" Mketo (former PYDA intern, now shop assistant), Simamkele "Ceejay" Sikisi (former work placement), and Zikhona Sihle Mlotywa (former PYDA intern).
Pebbles Project
The Pebbles Project enables children from farming communities to access quality education programmes and health, nutrition and social work services.
Since their inception in 2004, they have positively impacted the lives of thousands of children. They do this partnering with local wine farms to establish and manage Early Childhood Development and After-School Clubs for farm workers' children.
Through their various education centres, Pebbles Project is able to render their support programmes and services to the children and wider community.
Their areas of operation include Stellenbosch, Somerset West, Wellington, Citrusdal, Clanwilliam, Grabouw, and Hemel-en-Aarde.
Anna Foundation
Anna Foundation is a non-profit organisation that runs after-school centres for the children of farm labourers, within rural schools, and on farms (including wine farms) throughout the Western Cape.
It was started in 2005 to provide a safe and constructive place for rural children (Grade R - 12) to be after the school gates close. It is at these after-school centres that their professionally designed 3 R’s Programme: “Reading, Running, Right-ing” is implemented.
Their primary objective is to address the educational and social needs of rural children and offer them lifelong learning in order to build positive self-worth and self-respect.
WWF Conservation Champions
Through a voluntary membership model, WWF South Africa works with the environmental leaders in South Africa's wine industry, known as the Conservation Champions. These landowners commit to conservation of their natural areas, biodiversity-friendly farming practices, and continual improvement of their water and energy efficiencies.
To date, there are over 60 wine farms that are recognised as WWF Conservation Champions. Collectively, these Champions own 48 156ha of land, of which 25 626ha are conserved as a pristine part of the Cape Floral Kingdom.
By choosing WWF Conservation Champion wines, with their distinctive sugarbird and protea logos, you can support this cause.
Tania Kleintjes, organic winemaker at WWF Conservation Champion Spier Wine Farm.
How can you help us share the good news this #wineforgood month?
- Share your good news stories with us so that we can publish them on our website. Click HERE to submit your stories.
- Share the stories that we have published via social media. Click HERE to see them all.
- Get involved. Besides these listed above, there are plenty more wonderful organisations to support.
Keep up with all our #wineforgood stories via our News page, our daily newsletter (click HERE to subscribe), our #wineforgood spotlight page, and our social media profiles – and share them.