About Us

During May 2009, Calabash Trust, with the facilitation of Vision Quest Africa (VQA), underwent a process of evaluation and strategic planning, who assisted the organisation in achieving the following:

• Assessing the work of the organisation
• Identifying strengths and weaknesses
• Developing a three to five-year strategic plan
• Exploring/identifying the resource requirements in terms of the strategic plan
• Exploring/identifying ways to meet those resource requirements
• Developing a method of effective ongoing monitoring and evaluation of the work.

This was done through a model of action learning which incorporates action, reflection, learning and planning (please view our programmes and projects for more details).

Ongoing formative monitoring and evaluation (M&E) against the outcomes of all programmes and projects as per Calabash Trust’s operational and strategic plan was started towards the end of 2009 with the purpose of formative M&E to help improve our programmes and projects, and to determine the impact of these within the broader community.

How we have achieved formative M&E:

1. By creating measurable indicators in line with the immediate and intermediate outcomes of the programmes and projects.
2. By systematically gathering qualitative and quantifiable data according to the indicators on a monthly basis.
3. By analysing the data collected and reporting on this information on a quarterly basis.

• The initial period from 2010 and the beginning of 2011 is mostly being used for collecting baseline data.
• This baseline data will be used for comparison in order to assess the long-term impact according to our long-term impact outcomes (also in our strategic plan).
• Towards the end of 2012 we aim to carry out an external evaluation as preparation for the strategic planning in end of 2012.

Core Business of Calabash Trust

Through a multi-disciplinary community development approach we are working in partnerships in developing schools and pre-schools in disadvantaged areas to become centers of excellence.

Our Vision:

• To work with schools, supporting them to develop as educational centers of excellence and to later expand our focus to secondary schools and higher education.
• The scope of our work will be determined by our capacity, which we will continue to build ourselves.
• To maintain a strong reflective culture.
• Respect the well-being of our team, which enhances our ability to work hard and smart.
• To value Leadership as competent, effective and empowering.
• Build networks with other organisations, thus enhancing our impact.
• Our relationships with donors and supporters are governed by integrity and mutual understanding.
• We embrace traveler’s philanthropy. South Africa creates a context for giving, which creates an impact.
  

Our Mission Statement:

Calabash Trust aims to create a holistic operational model of community development which embraces travellers’ philanthropy. The focus is on schools, recognising the value of education in changing our communities and our country. We work with children, parents and educators in disadvantaged communities. Our engagement is through partnerships, creating an understanding of community needs. We recognise our interconnectedness with other organisations.

Our model has been created through rigorous reflection, learning and practice. It demonstrates our understanding that skills, knowledge and attitude are complemented by individual awareness of the inner source** from which we all operate. Calabash Trust nurtures and develops our staff with this same understanding in order that they may fulfil their individual potential.Through this process, schools will become centres of excellence where impact is continuously measured.

** Footnote: We understand that without an integral understanding of our inner core, drive, motivation we are unable to function to our optimum in all other aspects of our lives.

Calabash Trust Credo

Through a process of reflection and learning, we have come to develop an understanding of the values that we at Calabash Trust hold to be true and integral to our organisation. We will strive to develop a deeper understanding of these values and nurture them over time.

• We respect and inculcate a culture of reflection and learning with everything we do, so as to become better at our work and deepen our practice.
• We embrace Ubuntu, respecting the humanity of people and the value of community.
• We strive for equity and the development of democratic practice without prejudice, discrimination or favour.
• We promote a transparent, honest and open culture within all areas of our organisation, and reaching into the communities and projects with which we work. We work with integrity.
• We sincerely value the people who make up our organisation and aim always to develop their skills and potential so that they know and believe that they can make a worthwhile and healthy contribution.
• Whilst we recognise and understand the need for all of us to grow personally, and encourage this growth, we aim to work collectively as a cohesive team, respecting and listening to one another.
• We strive to develop and deepen our personal relationships within the team.
• We promote open and honest communication, understanding that communication is a
  two-way process.
• We nurture our commitment and strive to achieve a healthy balance in our work between being hard working, taking pleasure and pride in our efforts and providing acknowledgment and recognition for the achievements of others.
• In order to become a development organisation of excellence, we will engage communities as equal partners, recognising that there is much opportunity for mutual learning.
• We recognise our interconnectedness as an organisation within a broader context and strive to develop and deepen our relationships and partnerships with other organisations.
• We encourage creativity and innovation in our thinking and practice, opening opportunities for new knowledge, further growth and development.

The Calabash Trust Team...

Bukelwa Gongxeka - Financial Officer

Carla Collins - Monitoring & Evaluations Co-ordinator

Lynne Lawson - Treasurer

Mandisa Meleni - Office Administrator

Noluthando Khunjuzwa - General Manager

Ntombentsha Madinda - Fieldworker

Sharole Moss - Executive Director

Simphiwe Madywabi - Project Manager

Achievements:

• 1999 - Calabash Trust was established.
• 2000 - Calabash trust was registered as a Non profit Organisation, with a board of trustees.
• 2000 - Calabash Trust received our first container from Holland with School Furniture. This started our relationship with Stinting Township ZA.
• 2001/2002 - Calabash Trust started actively funding community projects, as well as building capacity in those projects. Training was delivered in volunteering, financial management, administration etc.
• 2002 - Calabash trust employs its 1st two staff members. Noluthando Khunjuzwa is now our office manager.
• 2003 - Mark Acher, a young enthusiastic teacher from England cycled across the UK to raise funds for Calabash Trust. He was inspired to do this after taking a township tour with Calabash Tours. He raised in excess of 100 000 rand – our biggest donation at that time.
• 2004 - We launched the Lavela Development Project in Ramaphosa Village. We partnered with NOH Architects, who assisted in designing a multi purpose centre using old shipping containers. Today the project feeds local children and runs a pre school.
• 2004 - Calabash Trust and Calabash Tours won the 2004 London Times Responsible Tourism Awards at the World Travel Market in London. We receive great coverage in the London Times. We won the category 'Poverty Relief', and were declared overall winners – beating 700 other organisations from around the world.
• 2005 - Calabash Trust UK is registered.
• 2006 - Marion Gate, the co-founder of Calabash Trust receives the Rotary Vocational Service Award for Community Work.
• 2006 - Reeds College, along with Calabash Trust UK start the Grass Roots programme. 22 UK Scholars come and build a sports field at Emafini Primary School. The school has returned every year since then and to date 3 fields have been completed.
• 2006 - Calabash Trust Budget reaches R 500 000.
• 2006 - Paul Miedema, the co-founder of the Trust receives a Rotary Vocational Service Award for Community Development and Commitment and Contribution to Responsible Tourism.
• 2006 - Calabash Trust forms the Cluster of Excellence – partnering with 6 primary schools from the townships, and making them the focus of our educational programmes.
• 2007 - Calabash Trust now employs 5 people, all from previously disadvantaged backgrounds, and from the communities we serve.Calabash Trust launches its Trench Gardening Programme.
• 2008 - Calabash Trust Budget now at R 1,2 Million.
• 2008 - The `100th container of School furniture from Holland Arrives – with a value of 7 million rand in total.
• 2009 - First formal evaluation conducted, 'First Theory of Change' developed.
• 2010 - Calabash Trust employs full-time Monitoring and Evaluation's Co-ordinator.
• 2010 - Simphiwe Madywabe, Calabash Trust Project Manager chosen to take part in the Rotary Trip 2010 Group Study Exchange Programme.
• 2010 - Calabash Trust employs an Executive Director.
• 2010 Noluthando Khunjuzwa, Calabash Trust Manager chosen to attend the ‘Leadership Skills for Women in the 21Century short learning programme at the NMMU Business School.

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