Company description
The CHURCH ALLIANCE FOR SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION (CAST) is a registered non-profit organisation that mobilises and equips local churches for compassionate action among the poor in their communities.
MISSION
To break the cycle of poverty in Africa through well organised, transparent and sustainable programs focusing on the wholistic well being of each individual. Mobilising and aligning local churches to reach out with practical compassion to empower, transform and redeem communities.
HISTORY & APPROACH
CAST was born out of the community development programmes of three Baptist churches: Westville, KwaDabeka and Noodsberg. Over three decades, these churches had together developed partnerships with a number of schools, clinics and community based organisations in poorer communities. Through these partnerships, programmes to help the poor in these communities were already running when CAST was registered as an independent NPO in 2009 (and subsequently as a Trust in 2011). The existing programmes in the Durban Inner City, KwaDabeka, Cato Manor and Noodsberg were incorporated into the new organisation which began to grow rapidly expanding its scope of programmes and branching into new communities. In 2010, the Masibambisane Center in Cato Manor was incorporated into CAST, followed in 2013 by Transformation Mariannridge (or RidgeCity) and then early in 2014, the outreach programmes of West City Fellowship in Chesterville. All these organisations brought experience, existing programmes, staff and valuable connections into the organisation.
LEGAL STATUS
CAST is a registered Trust IT No. 986/2011/PMB. It is also registered with the Department of Social Services as a non profit organisation: 085-077 NPO, and with SARS as a Public Benefit Organisation under Section 30 of the Income Tax Act. Donations made to the organisation are tax deductable under Section 18A (1)(a) of the Income Tax Act.
CAST is now a well-established non-profit with 24 staff and more than 150 active volunteers, serving more than 2500 poor and destitute people each month in nine communities. The organisation is on a solid financial footing and governed by a highly skilled board of directors.
At the heart of CAST’s approach is the belief that the secret to community upliftment lies within the communities themselves, and needs to be unlocked by creating vision, developing quality leaders, and the appropriate use of resources – together with simple and practical programmes that can be implemented by lay people and volunteers. CAST works in partnership with schools, CBOs, and churches to find practical ways to bring positive change to peoples’ lives in their own neighbourhoods. CAST is the critical agent that provides structure and coordination of programmes, maintains the administrative infrastructure, raises funds, and helps to make sure the programmes we provide produce real, long-term transformation and do not cause dependency. All our programmes aim to be “grassroots” by nature, able to be run by ordinary people who are equipped with a basic set of skills through a training programme.
Bank Details:
Bank: First National Bank
Account Number: 62762010248
Branch Code: 220565
More details
- KwaDabeka CAST Community Centre
- J249, Khululeka Drive
KwaDabeka
Durban 3612
contact: 081 777 6802
CAST formally partnered with KwaDabeka Baptist through an existing partnership between the church and Westville Baptist which began in 1970. Almost everyone who lives in the area is poor, and some live in abject poverty. The predominant problems in this community are poverty, Aids, unemployment and lack of economic opportunity, crime, drugs, domestic violence and rape.
Seventy children are enrolled in the Education and Child Development programme.
52 youth aged between 14 and 19 participate in the Sport and Youth Development programmes which include basketball and soccer teams; and the Resilience programme which has been incorporated into the Life Orientation curriculum at Sthokozile High School.
44 people, many of whom are also recipients of Relief Services, have undergone training to develop business skills that will enable them to start up and run their own businesses.
- Chesterville
- Location Details
2b Mahlathi Road
Dawncliffe
Durban 4091
Contact:081 777 6803
Partner: West City Fellowship
Originally called the “Blackhurst Location”, Chesterville was established in 1946, and named after T.J. Chester, the Municipal Native Administrative Department Manager of the time. Chesterville was built with the intention of becoming a retirement village. However, families moved from Cato Manor into Chesterville after the forced evacuations and riots of the 1940s and 1950s. This township community has a rich history of involvement in the apartheid struggle. Although there has been considerable development in recent years, there are still large numbers of people living in informal housing and affected by poverty and HIV/AIDS. West City Fellowship has been actively involved in development in this community since the late 1980s.
CAST currently partners with the Greater Cato Manor Fraternal; Ngilonde Orphanage; Vukukhanye; City Hope; as well as primary and high schools in this district. Some of the problems this community faces include: drug abuse, unemployment, and lack of housing.
Since 2014, CAST has implemented Relief Services, distributing food parcels to those in need. To date, 64 people have benefitted from the Local Economic Development programmes, 5 of whom are currently running their own businesses, using micro-loans received from CAST in 2016. 12 of the Business participants have also formed a Savings Club.
You can get involved in uplifting this community by volunteering as a tutor for the Wordworks Early Literacy programme facilitated at HP Ngwenya Primary School, as a Business training mentor, youth leader, or for Relief Services.
Partner churches/organisations: Greater Cato Manor Fraternal: New Beginning church, WCF, Full Gospel Church, Methodist, Zionist, Baptist, Presbyterian Assembles of God, Ngilonde Orphanage; Vukukhanye; City Hope; MRC, HP Ngwenya; Chesterville High; Umkhumbane Secondary School, Christopher Nxumalo Junior School; Khanye Kwelanga Primary, Bonela Secondary, Wiggins Secondary School; Nsimbini Primary School, Nkanyezi ECD, Chesterville Clinic, Cato Manor Police, Police Forum, Chesterville Library.
Programmes currently implemented, including average monthly statistics: Children/Education – Holiday Club (120), literacy (20), Relief (32) – food parcel, sales bags, health; Youth (28) – soccer, youth ministry, creative art, dance, basketball, Business (12) – beadwork, Nedbank Consumer Training
- Mariannridge
- 38 200539 Street
Mariannridge
Pinetown South Africa 3610
Contact:081 777 6804
Partners: Joy Chapel Ministries/ MCC / Mariannridge Primary and High Schools
Mariannridge was developed in 1976 when ‘coloured’ families were displaced from Pinetown, Motala Farm, Claremont, Thornwood, Cator Manor, Umlaas and other areas during apartheid. Initially, 600 units consisting of flats and semi-detached was build with no infrastructure, transport system, schools and shops. Over the years ownership and RDP houses were built and today Mariannridge has a swimming pool, taxi rank, clinic, fire station, police station, library and a few crèches.
In 2007 Transformation Mariannridge were formed under the guidance of Ps Jake Pieterse and others with the backing of His Church that is situated in the Pinetown area. The intention was to bring about social transformation through sport, arts, drama, counselling, makeovers and a soup kitchen. The idea was for members of this community to take pride in what belongs to them.
CAST has now taken over the role of Transformation Mariannridge and, in partnership with Joy Chapel Ministries, are now in a joint venture to see social transformation triumph. Joy Chapel is led by Ps Wayne Thring who mixes faith and politics on a daily basis and is passionate to see Biblical principles influence every sector of South Africa. JCM has a congregation of +-150 people who form part of the South African Evangelistic Mission, going on local and national mission trips.
Mariannridge has a huge need for housing to the extent that it has become a norm for three generations to live in one flat. Unemployment, alcohol, drugs (especially whoonga) is creating hopelessness in a community who once thrived on sports.
Since 2014, CAST has been working closely with (MCC) Mariannridge Co-ordinating Committee who run different programmes to enhance social health in this area.
In 2016, CAST partnered with Marianridge Primary School to implement the Early Literacy programme. Currently, 61 learners are benefitting from the programme as well as 61 families overall who receive assistance from CAST’s Relief Services.
