The Fort Brown Programme: a vision of energy and inspiration

Here is the story of how three villages are leading the way in establishing a thriving community-led practice

Back in 2002, Kwandwe Private Game reserve answered a call from staff who lived in the local community. They wanted assistance with setting up child care and training and support for self help groups. And so Ubunye was born from truly community-led beginnings. Initially called the Angus Gillis Foundation, Carl DeSantis, a founding member of Kwandwe, was adamant that the Foundation would ensure that communities in the area had every opportunity to thrive. From that day to this both Kwandwe and Carl DeStantis have invested in not only the community around Kwandwe but the villages where staff members’ families live stretching along the Great Fish River from Committee’s Drift to Peddie and down to the coast.

The nearest villages to Kwandwe: Kransdrift, Brandeston and Fort Brown are a special place for Ubunye. Known together as the Fort Brown Programme, Ubunye supports an eclectic and ever-growing collection of projects all led by the villages’ members. The aim remains the same, to ensure that each member of the community has the opportunity to thrive. The programme currently has ten inspiring projects: Mgcamabele Community Centre, Kwandwe Preschool, School aftercare clubs, Khula Nathi Music Club, Masincedane gardens, Ubunye Sports Club, Women Get Up & Go savings and livelihoods and the newest member, Ubomi Bonke centred on young men.

Planting Seeds of Change

From a struggle to get fresh vegetables locally and a vacant overgrown plot in Fort Brown village, the Masincedane garden was born. The vacant land was identified by women in the community as an opportunity to work together to ensure they not only had fresh vegetables themselves, but they could also generate income by selling these vegetables to Kwandwe. With Kwandwe on board, the Masincedane garden started. A tractor and plough lent by Kwandwe helped the village members to clear the area and the cultivating began. The Masincedane members grew as more people got interested. Now two more groups have joined the initiative: Women Get Up and Go and the Ubomi Bonke members. It is a truly an all-round community led endeavour. The Masincedane Garden is now not only green but orange, purple and yellow as the vegetables grow and are harvested providing income for everyone.

First Steps Into a World of Possibilities: Education and fun for young ones

From small beginnings in a rondavel in Brandeston, the Kwandwe Preschool began and with true community togetherness it thrived! So much so that Kwandwe invested in their initiative and a purpose built centre that included a community hub and full pre-school facilities was built. Now that hub, the Mgcamabele Community centre buzzes with Fitness training facilities used by Kwandwe staff, training for Ubomi Bonke members, Chapel Sessions, a Library and savings groups meetings venue and the After School Programme.

The Kwandwe PreSchool is also buzzing with 21 learners. They are doing their own fundraising and the preschool manager, Asi, is working towards registration of the centre with the Department of Basic Education. During school holidays the preschool turns into a joyful Holiday Club open to all ages. Here the children can play educational games, sing, play hide and seek, do treasure hunts, make up their own games and just have fun! On the 18th July, the children all joined in picking up litter and working in the garden for the 67 minutes of Mandela day!

In Fort Brown, the parents have got together and are working to start their own Fort Brown preschool in the village. Currently with no preschool their children only start education at Grade 1, losing out on a vital time of learning. They already have 20 children who would be overjoyed to start there. So now the fundraising begins.

However, Fort Brown, Brandeston and Kransdrift do have a very active and exciting After School Club open to learners from Fort Brown Primary School. It runs from straight after school for 2 hours and continues in the holiday time. The Aftercare is more than a safe place for learners to come, the assistant teachers help the learners with homework, basic writing and reading skills coupled with play time and snacks. It has become an important resource for learners. One After School teacher noted:

"I have been very emotional, I had a learner that came in here and was unable to speak nor write, I had to give this learner my full attention without neglecting the other learners. Seeing the rest of the learners helping this learner was very heart warming. Now that student is able to speak and can write. The mother of the learner was very impressed and has asked if her child can be part of the After School programme"

Finding Harmony Through Music

And there is more! At the beginning of this year (2025) the Khula-Nathi Music Club was started at Fort Brown Primary School. Nine learners from Fort Brown School opted to take the challenge and become musicians. Now five months into their journey, the 9 students are getting there, reading music, practising on their recorders and enjoying the wonderful sounds they are making. Their goal? A concert in October 2025 where everyone can come and enjoy their music!

On Field and Courts

Then there are sports activities! Fort Brown school are taking part in the Ubunye Challenge cup which this year is focused on conservation. Mzo, the trainer from the Kwandwe Rhino Trust, completed a set of interactive conservation sessions with the Grade 8&9 learners. Next there were competitions: an art competition to design a conservation-themed school logo to go on their school’s netball and soccer T shirts; and a music/poem competition to compose a song to cheer along their teams as they take part in the matches against 13 other schools in the area.

Next is the Ubunye Sports Club which draws young people from all three villages to also play netball and soccer. Practising every Saturday and committed to their cup winners dream, both Netball and Soccer teams have already taken part in tournaments and friendly games. The latest competition held at Seven Fountains and hosted by Pumba Game Reserve Foundation was part of a Responsibility and Conservation Tournament and Ubunye Sports Club netball team came second. They were overawed by their medals and prizes.

Women Building a Better Tomorrow

Yet, the driving force behind many of the initiatives in Fort Brown are the women. A savings group was started in Fort Brown two years ago and is going strong with share out of their savings happening every 12 months. They use their savings to invest in their businesses or buy household appliances, pay school fees or improve their house.

The Savings group has inspired a group of women to join the Women Get Up & Go initiative. Here they are committed to saving for six months and then with the help of a matching grant they will start a green business. A green business is one that is in tune with the environment, is profitable and works to preserve the environment and to share that knowledge with others. The group have financial education training to help them with savings and and training and mentoring to help them set up (or for some expand) their green business. Women in this group have recently joined the Masincendane Garden group and are ploughing and preparing their section for planting.

Young Men On Mission

The young men are not to be left out. The Ubomi Bonke young men’s group was formed six months ago. It now has 19 young men who are pledged to address gender based violence in their communities. The project is enables these young men to come together in a safe space to learn and discuss issues around gender based violence. They aim to become Ambassadors, spreading the message and advocating against violence and abuse towards women and others. They have committed to come together each Wednesday to learn more and start to network with local, regional and national groups with the same aim. They too enjoy their soccer matches which they use to engage with other young men. These UBomi Bonke Ambassadors are also joining the Mascendane Garden with a plot of their own to grow vegetables.

The Fort Brown Programme is certainly living up to its founding aim and enabling young people and their older relatives to take up opportunities and contribute to their thriving community. So much can be done together. Ubunye!