From the age of 12, Mziyanda Matiwane began working his way through Grootbos Foundation programmes and played soccer with the Football Foundation throughout his entire childhood. Despite being passionate about playing soccer, his dream was always to become a coach.
Today, at the age of 23, Mzi oversees all of our Football Foundation soccer teams and is currently the head coach of the U-13/14 boys team. While he actively works with all soccer teams, his main focus is working with the younger boys as he believes in the importance of having role models and setting a good example for kids who grew up like him. He emphasizes that the most important rule he lives by, is to practice what he preaches. He also explains that in order to be truly successful, you must lead by example and follow through on your own words.
His favourite thing about soccer is that coaching and playing are so interrelated- as you coach, you observe tactics and techniques that make you a better player, and when you play, you learn things that make you a better coach. He enjoys working with different teams and coaches so that he can not only share his own skills and knowledge, but also gain experience and learn from others.
Mzi explains, “The reason I come to work every day is because it’s so important to keep the kids off the streets and give them structure. Every day, the Football Foundation is providing the kids with an opportunity to be active and play with other kids.” He hopes to continue working with the Football Foundation and study Sports Management so that he can become a bigger asset to the Foundation and continue to help it grow.
Camera traps are considered some of the best wildlife monitoring tools by conservation biologists worldwide
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We are proud to announce that Luphiwe, Indi and Qhama have made the Boland Hockey Team
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Our Green Futures College 2018 students are getting into the swing of things in their studies
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Our Rock The Boat Programme headed up to Pretoria recently to take part in the SA canoeing champs
Read more >Sxolies Aerobics Club bringing fitness to the community
Read more >Bulelani believes in the need to strive towards the positive and opportunities
Read more >The Grootbos Foundation has been appointed as a Small Grants Facility by the Table Mountain Fund and has 7 grants to award
Read more >Pontsho combines his passion for horticulture with his commitment to the community through his work at the Grootbos Foundation
Read more >‘Urban permaculture is only slightly about gardening and mostly about people’ Toby Hemingway
Read more >A brief overview of her experience at the Premier Skills training
Read more >18 July is yet another opportunity to spread the love to those less fortunate
Read more >Our excursion based environmental education programme that aims to inspire a passion for the environment
Read more >The Siyakhula Careers, Employability and Enterprise Programme reaches new heights
Read more >The past year had been one of phenomenal growth and achievement for the Grootbos Foundation.
Read more >The 24-hour Football Tournament has come to an end, but what an event it was! From midday Friday the 10th of February to midday on Saturday the 11th of February family, friends and crowds gathered at the Masakhane football field supporting and playing in the 24Hours of non-stop football.
Read more >We are hosting a 24 Hour Football Challenge in Masakhane to raise funds towards a 21 seater bus!
Read more >Born in Makhado (Limpopo), Thilivhali is the third of six children. At school, he gravitated towards the natural sciences, Biology and Geography. The natural world fascinated him and sparked his dream of travelling, exploring and discovering.
Read more >PASSION and CARING are the words that best describe Siyabonga.
Read more >We recently added a bit of colour to an otherwise concrete 11 metre wall at our community farm project.
Read more >Grootbos Charity Concert at Bona Dea Private Estate on the 9th of December
Read more >The sad reality is that nearly 14 million South Africans face the daily challenge of having enough food on the table.
Read more >The motivation for the water safety programme came from the knowledge that living close to the sea, drowning is a frequent reality
Read more >Prudence started filling in as solely in relief positions for people that were on holiday. Recognizing her work ethic and dedication, she was made permanent member of the Grootbos housekeeping team in 2015. In June, she was selected for the 6-month Grootbos Foundation housekeeping training programme.
Read more >Since the start of the canoeing programme in May, the programme and it’s participants have gone from strength to strength.
Read more >The Grootbos Foundation proudly announces that the Table Mountain Fund has decided to render significant support to develop our flagship conservation project, the Green Corridor.
Read more >Learn to kick, to punch, to go to your limit to become a better and self-disciplined learner? This was the goal of the martial arts program “ŠAKAâ€, which was launched as a temporary pilot at the Football Foundation, at Gansbaai Primêr (Blompark).
Read more >My parents are Hein and Maudie. I am the oldest of 3 children. My father is employed in the local municipality and my mother is a seasonal worker at the local fish factory. They are trying their utmost best to give their children the best academic education. I’m in my second year of playing rugby. It is also my second year representing my province in ruby on a provincial level. My interest in ru
Read more >The Foundation’s food security project will establish two community garden centres, offering much-needed training and support.
Read more >Grootbos Foundation is stepping up its environmental vision with plans to spearhead a green conservation corridor.
Read more >Work place experience provides learners with a unique opportunity to build useful skills and gain valuable exposure.
Read more >The Grootbos Foundation Green Futures training college is helping Sisanda and others make their dreams come true.
Read more >During winter the blossoming pink Erica and the bees produce rare honey exclusive to Grootbos.
Read more >Our Siyakhula Growing the Futures farm continues to produce 100% pure fynbos honey that is unique to Grootbos.
Read more >Together with Stanford Canoe Club we have started a canoeing project to benefit children in the area.
Read more >Thanks to Grootbos Foundation’s Careers, Employability and Enterprise programme, Lubeni’s Internet Café is up and running.
Read more >“The Grootbos Foundation is willing to help people who want to achieve something in life and I am grateful for that.†- Zokhanya (Zozo) Bikani
Read more >Thandeka Ngcabashe has a passion for plants and loves being outdoors, she hopes to one day work at large nursery, possibly in Kirstenbosch.
Read more >Tell us about your most memorable Grootbos Foundation experience and you could be winner!
Read more >Students were treated to an interactive learning experience at the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden.
Read more >Local football coaches participate in a three-day coaching course to enhance and develop their training skills.
Read more >Two staff members have been given the opportunity to uncover and develop their jewellery making skills.
Read more >Nearly 100 students took part in entrepreneurship camps in the Overberg, facilitated by the Grootbos Foundation.
Read more >12 students have completed the rigorous selection process for the Green Futures horticultural training.
Read more >Nature scientists are exploring all the flora and fauna on the Grootbos Reserve and the Walker Bay Conservancy.
Read more >The German Men's Hockey Team paid our Grootbos hockey players a surprise visit.
Read more >Our volunteers, Andy and Caroline, compiled this great Valentine’s clip on what it is that everyone affiliated to the Grootbos Foundation loves. Take a look!
Read more >We would love to welcome all tweeters to our #LoveInAbundance Twitter chat on 11 February 2016.
Read more >Off to the Uylenvlei Retreat for a highly anticipated Female Empowerment Programme.
Read more >The Grootbos Foundation hosted a garden-to-table style lunch experience.
Read more >The 16th of December marked a historical event at Grootbos.
Read more >German Lewis, our cross-country superstar has been awarded Boland Athlete of the Year.
Read more >Our coaches Bulelani Mtobela and Mziyanda Matiwane have graduated and successfully achieved a level 2 rating.
Read more >This year we installed eight cameras at Grootbos, and so far have received amazing results.
Read more >Joanita Vivier is working on our frogging list for the Grootbos Reserve and Walker Bay Conservancy.
Read more >The Growing the Future honey project produces a high quality, ethically produced honey.
Read more >The Growing the Future honey project produces a high quality, ethically produced honey.
Read more >In support of swimming and water safety, the Point to Point team completed a 90 km run.
Read more >Grootbos Private Nature Reserve recently featured on the lifestyle blog, Whiskey and Wanderlust.
Read more >During our year-end fundraiser on 16 December at Forest Lodge, we will auction off some key pieces of art.
Read more >View our 2015 Annual Report and see what exciting things the Grootbos Foundation has been up to.
Read more >From 26 - 28 November a team of four from the Football Foundation will be participating in a 90 kilometer run.
Read more >16 December - a very exclusive concert at 18h00 at Forest Lodge on Grootbos Private Nature Reserve.
Read more >Kwêla came to visit and captured our Grootbos Foundation in all its glory! Take a look
Read more >Katarina author of the lifestyle blog, My Slow Journey, has featured Grootbos in one of her recent posts.
Read more >This week, Grootbos had the honour of hosting Loubie Rusch, an expert in fynbos foraging.
Read more >The past year the Siyakhula Careers, Employability and Enterprise Programme engaged a total of 1,992 learners at the 5 high schools.
Read more >Three young junior guides discover the wonders of nature guiding
Read more >The Siyakhula Careers, Employability and Enterprise Programme funded by ABSA is reaping amazing results and success stories abound.
Read more >Siyakhula Growing the Future Farm gets a major boost in productivity
Read more >“The Green Futures team celebrated the completion of the 18 month Haw & Inglis contract with a sumptuous braai at Sophie’s Place in Elim on Thursday 17 September
Read more >On Friday the 14th August our Gansbaai Premier Skills Trainers were visited by Premier Skills Assessors to monitor and evaluate their progress since being part of the Premier Skills Training that started in February 2014.
Read more >Grootbos Foundation successfully launches a new skills training programme to its basket of creating livelihoods for local unskilled and unemployed residents.
Read more >The unique Erica irregularis plant isn’t the only magical moment blossoming at Grootbos this winter.
Read more >Excelling as a guide at five-star nature reserve Grootbos, passionate about plants and with big plans for the future, Anecke is a community success story and a remarkable advocate for Responsible Tourism.Â
Read more >Community spirit and supporting local initiatives
Read more >With the Hawston Primary project in full swing, Jack Garrett our Sheffield Hallam coach reports:
Read more >On Friday 15th May 2015, Johan Strydom, the farm manager at the Growing the Futures project run by the Grootbos Foundation, took children from Laerskool Gansbaai on a farm visit
Read more >A gutsy performance from both the under 15s and under 17s Grootbos Football Foundation teams pleases the coaches away at Kleinmond
Read more >Grootbos Private Nature Reserve is the joint gold winner in the African Responsible Tourism Awards: Poverty Reduction 2015.
Read more >Moving Sushi recently visited the Grootbos Foundation and experienced firsthand the life-changing initiatives to build capacity for local rural residents
Read more >Sean Privett, Director of the Grootbos Foundation and world renowned conservationist announced a new vegetation survey is on the cards
Read more >Kick-off bonding weekend for Female Empowerment students at Uilenkraalsmond
Read more >Grootbos Green Futures Foundation College Students off to Eden Project, Cornwall, UK
Read more >Grootbos once again shortlisted as finalists for prestigious award!
Read more >Educating disenfranchised youth on growing your own food
Read more >Annual christmas play, talent show and awards ceremony
Read more >This month's Green Future's outing took guides, students & staff to Table Mountain
Read more >FFSA Hockey teams from Gansbaai, Stanford & Hermanus participate in friendly tournament
Read more >Last week's Holiday Programme focused on marine life, water safety & recycling
Read more >ABSA Siyakhula Careers, Employability and Enterprise programme
Read more >Grootbos colleague and friend, Brummer Olivier, has passed away
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