Pebbles Project is a non-profit organisation in Stellenbosch that enriches the lives of disadvantaged farm children and families through education. Operating throughout the Western Cape, they have changed the lives of many vulnerable people. One of these people is Bradley, a tasting room assistant in Stellenbosch. Read his story:
Bradley was born and raised on Eikendal Vineyards, Somerset West. As a young boy, he attended the Pebbles Project After-School Club on the farm, where he developed a love for reading through the Literacy Initiative, offered as part of the Pebbles Project School Enrichment Programme (SEP).
At the age of 16, a Pebbles Project social worker sat down with Bradley to discuss his future. With her guidance and support, Bradley completed Matric and was awarded a bursary to study BA Language and Culture at Stellenbosch University.
However, university life came with its challenges. In his third year, Bradley made the difficult decision to leave university and applied for a position at Asara Wine Estate, where he was appointed assistant tasting room manager. “There was no other manager at the time, so I had to manage the tasting room by myself. It was a challenge, but also a great learning experience,” says Bradley.
Shortly afterwards, he was offered the role of tasting room assistant at Eikendal Vineyards, which he gladly accepted.
Furthermore, Bradley decided to return to his studies. He enrolled part-time for a BCom Law degree at Boston Business College, while continuing to work at the tasting room. “I’ve always known I wanted a qualification behind my name, but it took some time to realise that a BCom degree was the right path for me.”
Now self-funding his studies, Bradley says: “I work hard for my tips because I believe that when you earn something yourself, it’s so much more rewarding.” To date, he has achieved five distinctions and is excited to graduate next year.
Now 26, Bradley is a confident and driven young man who takes pride in how far he’s come. His family and the Eikendal community are incredibly proud of his achievements. “I definitely think the younger children on my farm look up to what I’ve accomplished, and I hope to inspire them,” he says.
Bradley reflects with gratitude: “I have immense appreciation for Pebbles, especially the social workers at Pebbles, who helped me secure a bursary to study at Stellenbosch. If I hadn’t gone to university back then, I wouldn’t have had the confidence to enroll myself into college now.”
Bradley’s journey is a powerful reminder that success isn’t always a straight path, it’s about resilience, growth, and staying true to your dreams. From a young boy inspired by books to a determined student funding his own education, Bradley continues to build a future filled with promise. The Pebbles Project team is excited to see where his journey will take him next.
Good news stories abound in the South African Winelands. The #wineforgood campaign, launched by wine.co.za in June 2016, is all about sharing these uplifting stories. We dedicate the month of April to our #wineforgood campaign each year, sharing a good news story every day. Join us in spreading the good news about South African wine. If you'd like to submit a story, please email editor@wine.co.za. For more stories, visit www.wineforgood.co.za.