Capricorn Foundation

About us

Founder and President of the foundation is Tatjana Gallist. She was born in 1968 and grew up partially in Kenya. Even though dealing with finances and large clients is challenging in an ever changing environment Tatjana´s love for Africa never subsided. Her initial determination to join foreign aid projects after completing University, has now been adapted to a more direct and personal approach by setting up this foundation.
The Capricorn Foundation supports disadvantaged children, youths and communities in Africa. The effects of the HIV/AIDS pandemic and the urgent need to viably manage depleting resources, leads to our foundation focussing on specific programs that educate the young generation, empowers people and transfers know-how. Our goal is to address CHILDREN, EDUCATION & NATURE CONSERVATION.

Projects:
• BANA BA LETSATSI, MAUN, BOTSWANA: In December 2002, an Irish lady founded Bana ba Letsatsi in response to the growing number of children on the streets in Maun. She quickly identified the issue of children roaming the streets that so far had not been identified by the authorities. She set up the cornerstone for Bana ba Letsasti and started focusing exclusively on these children, picking them up off the streets and taking them to a make shift center and reintroducing them back to their schools.
• BIG LIFE FOUNDATION, AMBOSELI, KENIA: The Big Life Foundation was founden by Nick Brandt and Richard Bonham in 2010. Its goal is to protect 2 million acres of wilderness in the Amboseli-Tsavo ecosystem of East Africa and to curb the significant poaching happening in this area. Since its inception in Big Life has trained and employed more than 300 rangers, set up 31 outposts, maintains15 vehicles and has trained and successfully employed tracker dogs to hunt down poachers. It is within their boundary that a father of 6 lost his life tragically to a charging elephant. We have decided to support his wife and six children and ensure that the family does not become destitute and the children can continue their education.
• THE DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST, NAIROBI, KENIA In December 2009 we signed an agreement with The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (DSWT) in Kenya, whereby we will support the Trust in its effort to educate and support children and schools in communities that boarder the Tsavo National Park. The Capricorn Foundation will carry the annual expenses for the Chui Desnaring Team, located in Mtito Andei, for three years.
• MENINO JESUS, MANHIÇA, MOSAMBIK: "Menino Jesus" is an orphanage for girls in Manhiça, approx. 78km north of Maputo. It is one of the establishments of the catholic diocese of Maputo. The orphanage cares only for girls, most of whom have lost their parents due to HIV/AIDS (some are themselves infected) or other illnesses. Currently it accommodates 60 girls between the ages of 5 and 18 years. The Capricorn Foundation financed the construction and perimiter fencing of this new building. The furnishing of the new house was financed by the German Embassy in Maputo.
• BAPHUMELELE, KHAYELITSHA, SOUTHAFRICA: In 1989, Rosalia Mashale, "Rosie" to those around her, a trained primary school teacher, moved from the Eastern Cape to Khayelitsha in the Western Cape Province. Khayelitsha lies approx. 25 km north of Cape Town and is one of the largest Townships around Cape Town in the vicinity of the airport. Rosie was disturbed to see young children going through the rubbish dump in search for food while their parents were away during the day, either at work or in search of work. She responded by taking children into her home, and together with a group of women from the community, began looking after these unsupervised children. The name given to this project was Baphumelele, a Xhosa word meaning "progress". Since these humble beginnings the Baphumelele Educare Centre was founded, which today is an established community crèche (preschool) caring for roughly 230 children aged three months to six years. While the Educare Centre had developed a reputation for tutoring children, Rosie also felt a calling to reach out to orphaned children in the community. To that end, the Baphumelele Children´s Home was created as a place of safety for abandoned, abused, neglected or orphaned children, most of whom are either infected with or affected by HIV/Aids. The Capricorn Foundation has been asked to act as the German representative of "Baphumelele Children´s Home". We will gladly assist Rosie and her Team with all issues related to German donations and donors.

Tatjana Gallist is the Founder and President of the Capricorn Foundation.

For other net participants we can offer an expert guidance through trained staff, give an expert opinion, procure expert information and establish new contacts in the field of our work.