Amy Foundation

Formerly Amy Biehl Foundation

Qui sommes-nous

The Amy Foundation is a non-profit organisation that offers programmes to develop and empower youth, ages 5-35, living in challenged and vulnerable communities within the Western Cape.

Mission
To provide a safe environment in challenged and vulnerable communities where we develop emotionally well rounded children and youth who make positive life choices and become contributing members of society.

Vision
To provide the best children and youth programs where all achieve and succeed in life.

The aim of our programmes is to offer young people in the townships healthy alternatives to today´s negative influences, to provide them with hope and a brighter future and to keep them off the streets and away from violence, drugs, alcohol, sex and idleness. At the same time, we look to unlock creative talent by providing the students with opportunities to become future leaders, entrepreneurs and well rounded citizens in a global society, able to break the cycle of poverty prevalent in the townships.

Programmes:
• Academic Support: The Literacy Programme supports advancement of low literacy levels among pre-school and primary school students.
• HIV/AIDS Prevention & Life Skills: The main focus of the peer education and HIV/AIDS Prevention programmes, is to engage young people at the local schools in our area to think positively, make informed choices and assist them visualizing the bigger picture out of the stigmatic box as we are working in the township. We do life skills within the classes and run awareness lessons on HIV/Aids, Teenage pregnancy and substance abuse, have weekly chat rooms to discuss issues pressing societal, via drama, debate, walk and talk and poetry sessions.
• Arts & Culture: The performing arts programme offers the learners that attend our after schools an opportunity to acquire skills which they can use in their future to make informed choices. We offer Drama, Marimba, Brass, Choir, and Traditional Dance.
• Greening & Environmental: G+E Programme encompasses three main goals: Establishing and cultivating on-site vegetable gardens at our disadvantaged schools. These gardens not only provide food for the school and community, but also teach important life skills to the children regarding food security and sustainability; Providing eco-learning through clubs and classes during our afterschool programme; Giving the children opportunities for outdoor learning through holiday camps and other outings where our learners can interact meaningfully with the natural environment.
• Sports: The sports development programme provides a safe and supportive space for children to experience both the physical and mental challenges of sports. Coached by staff members and volunteers, the sports programme provides an opportunity for local youth to develop their skills through healthy and constructive activities.
• Youth Skills Development: Participants complete our program with the skills to become economically active youth and active members of the job force. YSD students are granted the opportunity for internships and potential jobs at companies such as the Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa, Relate Trust, Nandos, and International Hotel School.

Kevin Chaplin is the Managing Director of the Amy 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.