About us

who are we

Our purpose is to provide enriching educational camp experiences for children from under-resourced communities, where they develop values and life skills that will positively impact their lives.

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Bridges Retreat Centre & Education Programme

A place where every year, thousands of children, most in need of transformational experiences, are able to leave the realities of life for a few days and engage in learning and growing emotionally, mentally, relationally and spiritually in the beauty of creation.

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  • Our Mission

    We provide fully funded outdoor educational camp experiences in the beauty of nature, aligned to the national curriculum, for Grade 5–7 learners from under-resourced communities in the Western Cape. Through a holistic approach that nurtures cognitive, social-emotional, spiritual, and physical development, we focus on building values, life skills, and leadership capacity to empower each learner.

  • “Empowering lives
    through transformative
    camp experiences.”

  • Bridges Retreat Centre

    At Bridges Retreat Centre, we believe in the transformative power of short-term, facilitated group experiences, where people are out of their normal home, work and community situations and are engaged in learning and growing emotionally, mentally, relationally and spiritually in the beauty of creation.

SDG

Sustainable Development Goals

Here at Bridges our programme is design to align with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, we support the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS).

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Goal 2 - Zero Hunger

End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.

Goal 3 - Good Health and Well-Being

Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.

Goal 4 - Quality Education

Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.

Goal 10 - Reduce Inequalities

Reduce inequality within and among countries.

timeline

our journey

Over the years, Bridges has grown and flourished, making it
possible to impact even more lives every single day.

  • 2020

    A Year of Challenge and Hope

    The COVID-19 pandemic brings uncertainty, isolation, and fear to South Africa and the world. Children in under-resourced communities are among the hardest hit.

    • June 2020: Bridges of Hope SA approaches Common Ground Church with an opportunity to purchase the Bridges property in Franschhoek, as COVID-19 challenges their vision. Church leaders pray for guidance, and in a remarkable turn of events, a generous vision partner provides the exact amount needed for the initial deposit and a substantial contribution towards twelve months of running costs.
    • July 2020: The offer to purchase is signed.
    • August 2020: Bridges Retreat Centre Franschhoek NPC is officially incorporated as a Non-Profit Company (NPC), with a Board of Directors appointed.
  • 2021

    Laying the Foundation

    • January 2021: The property transfer to Bridges Retreat Centre NPC is finalised with the Deeds Office.
    • June 2021: The first education programme staff member is recruited to develop and manage a midweek outdoor educational programme for children from under resourced communities.
    • August 2021: Bridges Retreat Centre receives Public Benefit Organisation (PBO) status from SARS, with an S18A designation. Its mandate: to provide offsite educational programmes that supplement and enrich learning for underprivileged school learners.
    • November 2021: The first camp manager is appointed, and a team of facilitators is recruited and trained. The education programme is developed through extensive research on global best practices, tailored to meet the needs of local community schools.
  • 2022

    From Vision to Reality

    • January 2022: Bridges hosts its first Principal Engagement Session, connecting with leaders from potential partner schools.
    • January 2022: The South African government lifts the 1m social distancing rule, allowing learners to return to full-time school attendance.
    • February 2022: Bridges holds its first trial camp with 40 children from youth groups in Mitchells Plain, Langa, and Delft. The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) approves Bridges’ first official outdoor education camp in record time. Sixty Grade 7 learners from Boundary Primary in Bonteheuwel attend.
    • March 2022: Bridges launches its first newsletter, connecting with a growing community of generous donors.
    • End of 2022: Bridges hosts 24 fully funded camps, impacting 1,869 learners and 130 educators.
  • 2023

    Expanding Impact

    • February 2023: A generous donor provides a large contribution covering most of the bond repayment, ensuring the sustainability of the education programme.
    • End of 2023: Bridges hosts 32 fully funded camps, positively impacting 2,342 learners and 132 educators.
  • 2024

    Strengthening Our Reach

    • October 2024: Bridges is officially registered as a Non-Profit Organisation (NPO) with the Department of Social Development (NPO number: 309-176).
    • End of 2024: Bridges continues to grow, hosting 29 fully funded camps across 15 partner schools, impacting 2,624 learners and 132 educators. WCED approval for all camps remains ongoing

the team

our people

Meet the faces behind Bridges, each a huge contributing factor
to what makes Bridges the place it is today.

    Rigby Wallace

    Chairman

    Ryan Ter Morshuizen

    Director

    Gary Voss

    Director

    Jay Utton

    Director

    Jennifer Crombie

    Managing Director

    Catherine van Rensburg

    Fundraising Manager

    Rebecca Yoko

    Operations Manager

    Shernel Meyer

    Camp Manager

    Anita

    Coach

    Naye

    Coach

    Siya

    Coach

    Emily

    Coach

    Isiphile

    Coach

    Jean-Pierre

    Coach

    Aaron-John

    Coach

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Help Empower a Child to Dream Bigger

Contribute to memorable life experiences that have a lasting positive impact on the developing minds and hearts of the young people who attend our camps. Contribute to shaping a better society, for generations to come.

BANK DETAILS
Bank: FNB Account Name: Bridges
Current Account Number: 62864303278
Account Type: Platinum BusinessAccount
Branch Code: 250 655
Reference: Ed Prog Sponsorship

Bridges Retreat Centre is a registered NPO and 
Public Benefit Organisation with Section 18A status. 

This means that all donations are tax deductible 
(we will issue you with a Section 18A certificate).
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