Share:
Last week, we were thrilled to visit Enterprise365 Innovators AMANDLA and OASIS ‘Reach For Your Dreams’ in South Africa. The organizations are recipients of the Olympism365 Innovation Hub – a collaborative initiative between the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Beyond Sport and Women Win. The nine social Enterprise365 Innovators are using income generation models, sustainable finance solutions and regenerative investments to address social challenges in and through sport on the path to sustainable development. Facilitated by Beyond Sport, AMANDLA is using the IOC funding to scale its Safe-Hub model which addresses youth development and provides offerings to tackle inequality and poverty. Oasis is using the IOC funding to seed its mobile street football arena which promotes community empowerment and economic development.
Our Senior Grants and Programs Manager (and South African native), Tarryn Horner, had the opportunity to speak with both about their innovative projects and witness their on-the-ground impact firsthand: “It was fantastic to spend time with both AMANDLA at their Safe-Hub and Oasis at their community facility and residence. Learning more about their communities, social impact programs and social enterprise models helps to conceptualize the value-add that we can provide beyond the investment through the Olympism365 Innovation Hub.”
AMANDLA
AMANDLA is on a mission to create lasting systemic change through its Safe-Hub model, which goes beyond sport to also offer holistic youth development. Its Olympism365-winning innovation integrates sport, education and social enterprise to help young South Africans break free from the constraints of poverty, inequality and limited opportunities. The Safe-Hubs not only help youth overcome challenges but also helps them become changemakers in their communities by providing skill-building programs in entrepreneurship and leadership. These programs bridge the gap between education and employment, creating tangible economic pathways.
AMANDLA’s impact can be seen in personal stories like that of Zayaan, a participant of the AMANDLA Playmaker Program. Implemented in Safe-Hubs, it includes sport-based learning, leadership development, academic support and community engagement. Listen below to hear from the youngest youth coach and beneficiary of the Playmaker Program:
Peer support is essential in helping young people navigate the challenges they face both inside and outside the Safe-Hub. A core element of AMANDLA’s success is a sense of community and nurturing among its participants. Through group activities, mentorship and shared experiences, they learn to hold each other accountable, offer support and help each other make better choices.
Anelani, Head of Facility at one of AMANDLA’s Safe-Hubs, shared that the top challenges their youth face include teen pregnancy, substance abuse and peer pressure from gangs. Listen below to hear what drives Anelani’s work and his reason for joining the organization:
“AMANDLA is not just an NGO – we are a social enterprise committed to scalable, self-staining impact,” said Phillip Dürner, General Manager of Innovation & New Ventures, AMANDLA. He explains that their innovation lies in its tested and replicable Safe-Hub model that creates sustainable youth ecosystems. Financial sustainability is embedded into the model, with Safe-Hubs generating revenue through facility rentals, corporate leagues and local business activities. This approach reduces reliance on external funding, ensuring that its work can thrive without depending on donations or grants.
With Olympism365 Innovation Hub support, the organization intends to expand its programming through tech-driven means, which it sees as essential in driving real-time impact tracking and income generation. The Digital Data Hub and Safe-Hub Portal will be critical in expanding AMANDLA’s model to new regions and further enhancing its programs.
“Through Enterprise365, we’re scaling income-generating initiatives within Safe-Hubs, such as pitch rental, coworking and corporate leagues. By embedding revenue-generating enterprises into Safe-Hub precincts, we reduce reliance on external funding while creating local employment opportunities. The Safe-Hub Portal and Digital Data Hub will further enhance our impact,” said Dürner.
OASIS ‘REACH FOR YOUR DREAMS’
Founded in 2000, Oasis uses sport, social skills and vocational training to drive positive change in underserved South African communities across Cape Town, rural towns in Western Cape and the Cape Agulhas Municipality. Its mission is to combat youth unemployment and homelessness and foster social integration. Oasis’ Olympism365-winning social enterprise model accomplishes this through its sport for development programs, community-owned gardens and vocational training initiatives.
The organization’s mobile small-sided football arena is an income-generator designed to bring sports and community development into underserved and hard-to-reach areas. “The ability to have Oasis set up mobile pop-up arenas and to transform underutilized areas into safe and structured spaces for sports and social initiatives is great. Football serves as the “anchor tenant” for these areas, with the power to address a variety of social challenges, from youth unemployment to gang violence,” shared Clifford Martinus, Founder of Oasis.
Through the mobile arena, Oasis can set up football programs that provide a sense of belonging, teamwork and purpose. This platform not only engages youth but also provides a gateway for other community development initiatives to take root, creating jobs and opportunities in areas where they are desperately needed. As Oasis sees it, “football can be the entry point to a range of solutions,” from addressing social ills like gang activity to creating vocational opportunities. Through programs like this, the organization is equipping community members with entrepreneurial skills to support a sustainable community-owned model.
“Being a coach isn’t just about teaching sport; it’s about being a role model and showing the kids that change is possible. We focus on helping them build confidence, make positive choices, and work together as a team, which has a lasting impact on their lives and the community,” said Fatima Jacobs, a youth coach at Oasis.
Addressing youth unemployment, homelessness and social integration is extremely personal for Oasis. Many of the team members have experienced the lingering effects of apartheid-era politics, which has marginalized many Cape Town communities and left them impoverished. The organization is deeply committed to preventing this generation from falling further into societal decay.
“Oasis has given me purpose and hope to work and support homeless people. I was also homeless. Supervising the residence is about trust, it keeps me focused, it keeps me more positive, because I know when I do something to somebody, I must do it right, because that is going to happen in return to me. I know the challenges on the streets, drugs and violence and the tough journey to a changed life but it’s worth it, putting the wrong behind you and learning to forgive yourself. Oasis has done this for me,” said Erefaan Jacobs, Supervisor at Oasis.
With growing unemployment and limited opportunities, Oasis sees its work as crucial in offering youth a different path—one that leads to employment, empowerment and social change. “We just want to offer alternative positive opportunities for the communities,” says Martinus.
One of the ways Oasis creates opportunities is through its community-owned organic gardens including “Gardens of Grace” and “Gardens4Growth.” The gardens provide food security and also serve as hubs for education and empowerment. Through them, Oasis offers vocational training to help youth secure employment in agriculture and other sectors. Once they finish training in the gardens, many receive further accredited vocational training and some even gain on-the-job experience, helping them build a career.
The real success, however, comes from Oasis’ holistic approach. The gardens are connected to its street football programs, creating a comprehensive ecosystem where participants can access the benefits of food security and social engagement. As people share in the harvest and learn to cook for themselves, they gain a sense of independence and pride. Oasis is committed to scaling this initiative, engaging more communities and ensuring that these gardens continue to be a vital tool for social and economic development.
With the support of Olympism365 Innovation Hub and Enterprise365, Oasis intends to scale its efforts and make an even greater impact. “We are humbled by this great opportunity! We’re eager to learn from others and grow a community-owned franchise model of mobile arenas. Through this, more young people can reap the benefits of our programming. We hope to see a lasting change in behaviors and opportunities in our community, pathing a positive way for the future generations,” said Martinus.
Share:
