The Dreamcatcher Foundation

25 years ago, we were the leaders in South Africa. The first to break the mould: To dare to connect visitors to the land, to the people. Nelson Mandela's people at grass routes. Today Dreamcatcher is still leading: Merging valued partners, volunteers and visitors to pioneer groundbreaking projects and tourist visitor experiences which will change for the good, the destiny of individuals and communities across South Africa. Join us! It's possible. Let us lead the way!

The Dreamcatcher Foundation of South Africa, Registration Number: IT/1675/2003 constitutes an appropriate legal body in the form of a development trust, to facilitate and promote the relevant identified initiatives outlined below and is duly registered with the Department of Justice in the Republic of South Africa in terms of section 6 (1) of the Trust Property Control Act 198 (Act 57 of 1988)

How are we making dreams come true?

The mission of The Dreamcatcher Foundation is to change words into action. We walk the talking to put an end to poverty and lack of knowledge to build a better more sustainable future permanently, for an identified number of individuals in impoverished communities across South Africa.

Dreamcatcher has won numerous awards in recognition of the results achieved, ground breaking new models and initiatives developed, (that work), and is a high profile charity working for the well being and advancement of under-privileged communities in South Africa.

Anthea Rossouw founded Dreamcatcher in 1984 from humble beginnings, in a then Apartheid dominated and racially divided South Africa. She was named 'The Dreamcatcher', by the dying patriarch Moses Kleinhans, who lived in the community of Melkhoutfontein, Stilbaai: in recognition of her resolve and dedication, in spite of facing enormous odds, to spearhead a socio-economic transformation, which changed the lives of many individuals in his community.

Dreamcatcher's work is to help people to help themselves out of the poverty trap, and to bring lasting dignity, skills, knowledge transfer and access to opportunities to communities. Specific emphasis is placed on the roll women can play to rebuild their own lives and that of the communities they live in. Children living in these communities are part of our focus group, and are involved in many initiatives throughout the year.

Dreamcatcher strives to facilitate harmony in diversity, mutual respect and universal understanding between cultures in South Africa and to transcend these values into international outreach programmes. We thus think globally but act locally as we reach out to partners to join us to make a difference which is tangible and sustainable.

Examples of projects and development initiatives which connect the locals to engage with visitors from around the world are: Homestays with Kamamma, Cookup with Kamamma, Crafting with Bhuti and Sisi and the rewarding Dreamcatcher Kids and Work and Play volunteer programmes.

These unique community based projects are fed into the travel affiliate organisation Travel Dreamcatcher, which offers a professional, one-stop booking and information service to ensure that visitors have the chance to visit, or volunteer, transfer skills and learn about a whole new way of life at grass routes in South Africa, as lived by the locals.

Whether you are paying a meaningful visit, volunteering or a donating to Dreamcatcher: we offer a real chance to make a difference where it counts, as our commited staff and local mentors live in the communities we work in, and we track and monitor progress every day.

Our aims are to:

• Improve the lives of predominantly South African women and their families by vocational training, teaching of basic business skills and access to resourcese and knowledge to build a professional small business which creates work at local level.
• Tackle and eradicate poverty and unemployment with lasting results.
• Work closely with identified matriarchs, mothers, elders and children in communities across South Africa, 365 days a year.
• Develop and mentor outcomes-based development projects, owned by the entrepreneurs Êand the community and to utilize the skills, passion, patronage and knowledge of volunteers and visitors recruited in countries such as The Netherlands, Canada, United States of America and the United Kingdom, to join us to make a difference.
• Develop and nurture a network of strategic partners and alliances throughout South Africa and internationally to work in harmony as a committed, caring team to reach the main objective of poverty alleviation.
• Spearhead initiatives which emphasize the importance of waste management in communities, by the communities, as also efficient energy consumption and environmental awareness.
• To reach out for assistance and resources globally, but to act locally.

Dreamcatcher Nominated by the WTTO as one of the top 3 organisations in the world in the Investment in People Category - March 2005 - Winner of Proudly South African Award (WC) - The founder awarded TIAW World of Difference Award in Canada in 2008 - Inspiring award winning films & spearheading alternative models for poverty alleviation and skills transfer