Article source: Bridges Retreat
After a record year empowering thousands of children from under-resourced schools across the Western Cape, Bridges Retreat has announced continued backing from Takealot for its pioneering three-year youth-development programme.
Since partnering in August 2025, Takealot has provided significant financial and in-kind support – from sponsoring camps to providing sports equipment, bedding and educational resources – directly enabling hundreds of under-resourced learners to participate.
“We partner with organisations that deliver meaningful, measurable progress,” says Frederik Zietsman, CEO of Takealot. “The same learners return each year, building confidence, empathy and problem-solving step by step. That continuity is powerful – particularly for children from under-resourced communities – and we’re pleased to contribute to the journey.”
In 2025 alone, Bridges secured R4.4 million in support from corporate and philanthropic partners – including Takealot, the Cheslin Kolbe Foundation, the Rupert Education Foundation, Coast & Country Sales and PFM Group – enabling 39 fully funded outdoor-education camps. The organisation is now looking to raise R1.2 million to restore the reserves used to deliver the final seven camps this year, ensuring every learner can continue their three-year journey in 2026.
This partnership supports one of the only sustained, three-year outdoor-education models of its kind in the Western Cape, focused on developing critical soft skills – communication, resilience, empathy and problem-solving – by accompanying the same learners and their teachers from Grade 5 to Grade 7 as they build the capabilities employers say matter more than grades.
Proven Impact
The transformation goes beyond confidence – it reshapes how children see themselves and what they believe they can achieve.
“You see it happen almost in real time,” says Naomi Claassen, a Grade 5 teacher from Chatsworth Primary. “Learners arrive withdrawn, avoiding eye contact. By the second day they’re cheering for teammates, taking initiative and laughing without fear. For many, it’s the first time they’ve felt truly seen and valued.”
“By the end of camp, the same children who struggle to focus in class are leading teams through challenges and supporting others,” says David Isaacs from Riverlands Primary. “It’s more than behaviour that changes – it’s identity. They go home believing they have something to offer the world.”
In Term 3 2025 alone, that transformation reached 1 015 learners and 50 educators across 15 camps, supported by 134 volunteers. The Bridges facilitators delivered 3 780 hours of direct coaching and mentoring. Educators across all partner schools report the same pattern: learners return more confident, more collaborative and ready to lead.
Why Three Consecutive Years Matter
The core capabilities cultivated through Bridges – communication, empathy, resilience and problem-solving – align with what global research defines as essential life skills. Unlike conventional teaching, they rely on sustained practice, reflection and relational learning over time.
“Many of the learners who arrive at Bridges haven’t had the opportunity to reflect on what they’re good at,” says Shernel Meyer, Bridges’ Camp Programme Lead. “When an introverted learner recognises their ability to motivate or unite a team, there’s a visible shift in how they see themselves. That moment of awareness evolves into self-belief – it becomes the foundation for confidence and the ability to pursue opportunities that once felt out of reach. These are the kinds of capabilities our resource-constrained schools seldom have the capacity to nurture – which is why our Outdoor Education Programme was created: to help level the capability playing field.”
Set on a 12.5-acre property in Franschhoek, Bridges hosts a camp almost every week of the school term, reaching over 3 000 learners and 150 educators annually across its 15 partner schools.
The impact extends far beyond the camp experience itself. Educators consistently report that the transformation they witness at Bridges continues in the classroom – with learners returning more engaged, more confident and better equipped to lead.
“Camps like this play a vital role in holistic education,” says Ms Mbenenge, Principal of Dalubuhle Primary. “They encourage personal development, resilience and social interaction in a unique and inspiring setting. Our learners have returned with renewed motivation and memories that will stay with them for years to come.”
Term 3 2025 Snapshot
- 15 camps
- 1 015 learners
- 50 educators
- 134 volunteers
- 1 424 volunteer hours
- 7 455 nutritious meals served
- 3 780 hours of facilitation and coaching
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Date published: 04/11/2025
Feature image: Supplied
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