It begins where people have equal opportunities to access education, security and prospects.
South Africa holds a special place in our hearts, as our friendship began in Cape Town. To this day, we feel a strong connection to this place. And without that connection, Encompass Performance would not exist today. According to the GINI coefficient, South Africa is the most unequal country in the world. Extreme disparities in income, living conditions and access to education shape the daily lives of many people. These structural factors influence not only opportunities, but also, in the long term, health and quality of life.
At Encompass, our work focuses on individual health, energy and well-being. At the same time, we recognise that health does not exist in isolation. Meeting basic needs, access to education, stable living conditions and prospects for the future are fundamental prerequisites for long-term well-being.
That is why we are committed to supporting projects that build on precisely these principles. We donate a portion of our profits and, at the same time, aim to raise awareness of organisations doing sustainable work on the ground in South Africa.
That is why we work with the non-profit organisation Capetopia e.V.. Capetopia was founded in 2020 by Jessica Bönn and focuses specifically on development cooperation in Cape Town. The charity’s work is based on three key pillars:
Sustainability, social justice and security
The aim is to improve long-term structures and create real opportunities for local people. Capetopia starts precisely where health begins:
1. Solar panels on schools (Paarl / Paarlzicht Primary School)
- Clean energy from renewable sources (solar energy)
- Reliable energy supply & learning environment
- The savings on electricity costs are reinvested in social projects reinvestiert
- Effects on health: Clean energy through contributions to climate protection, stability, better learning conditions, and more equal opportunities through social upliftment measures
2. Funding for school education (Paarl School)
- Children gain access to education, school supplies and structure. For just €770, a whole school year for a child at Paarl School can be funded
- Effects on health: Education is one of the most significant factors in long-term physical and mental health, as well as self-determination
3. Education & Leadership Programme (Lavender Hill & Steenberg)
- Support for young people from structurally disadvantaged regions
- Job application coaching, Teaching of core skills (Computer skills, job interviews, identifying personal interests and strengths, mindfulness training, help with finding work placements and/or further qualifications)
- Developing a sense of purpose and personal responsibility
- Effects on health: Greater self-efficacy, better prospects for the future and reduced psychosocial stress
4. Music project – Sounds of Hope (Lavender Hill)
- Access to music education for children and teenagers
- Learning to play an instrument
- Fostering creativity, self-expression and a sense of community
- A safe, structured space outside challenging living environments
- Effects on health: Music and creative activities promote emotional stability, self-confidence and social integration – key factors for mental health and long-term well-being
Why we decided to do this
It was important to us to support an organisation that doesn’t just provide short-term help, but facilitates structural change. Capetopia focuses precisely on the fundamental factors that determine health in the long term: Education, security, clean energy supply and prospects.
If you share this view and would like to make a contribution, please donate directly to Capetopia.
By clicking the button, you will be redirected straight to Capetopia’s official donation page. Capetopia issues official donation receipts on request.
