We are a faith-based NGO. Our mission is to provide the community of Mabopane, particularly the youth with the opportunities and skills required to realize their full potential and purpose and so become a meaningful and contributing member of the society.

Founded in 2004 under the NGO SA Cares for Life, Lesedi La Batho started by forming and supporting an informal soccer team. Today we are a multi-facetted NGO in the field of community development, using sport as a tool to transfer holistic life skills, as well as offering life skills training to young mothers and other disadvantaged members of the community.

SPORTS: Professional soccer training in co-operation with 7 high schools in Mabopane. Capacity building workshops for coaches and peer educators.

EDUCATION: A Pro-active Information Program (PAIP) provides participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to make positive life choices concerning their emotional and physical well-being.

USAID-TB PROJECT: Social Auxiliary Workers and Sports Coaches screen community members for TB, assist with testing, clinic appointments, monitor and support treatment plans and provide emotional support as well as education.

ANTI-ABUSE-PROGRAM: With a special forces trained combat team we hope to provide both attack and physical defence training skills as well as techniques for de-escalating conflicts.

SIZANI SKILLS TRAINING: Currently 100 community members are participating, most of them young mothers. The workshops are in: Baby Health and Hygiene, Computer Skills, Beading and Sewing and Baking Skills. The training encourages the participants to become empowered, financially independent and self-sufficient. Each module lasts 2-3 months, ending with a graduation ceremony. These workshops nurture the Sizani Social Enterprise Development initiative to encourage and enable the trainees to become entrepreneurs and grow their own business.

The Sizani group members are able to access our social relief service (food parcels, clothes donations, baby products) as well as leave their babies at our day care free of charge.

BOKOMASO GROUP: The group is made up of commercial sex workers who are in need of support. We provide basics like food parcels, clothes as well as emotional support and training to generate alternative forms of income. The Bokomaso Group is also encouraged to participate in our in-house training workshops and group discussions.

SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOOD: Offers training and employment opportunities in the field of computer training, basic bookkeeping, cashiers and merchandising and formal application skills. We are partners of the Department of Social Development and therefore also run a referral and information desk which acts as a gateway to our centre and services.

BASWA MAMA PROJECT: The program was designed to fight the growing trend of teenage pregnancies within Mabopane. We do this by using the teenage pregnancy program (PAIP) within the 7 High Schools and 4 of the Primary Schools in Mabopane. This includes information around goal setting, self confidence, contraception, relationship and children’s rights, focusing on learners between 9 and 22 years. We also support young girls who are already mothers or pregnant, holding support groups and events around breast feeding, baby health and hygene, safe care, adequate nutrition and self confidence building.

ARTS AND CULTURE: This was initially based on an US AID TB grant, but we have included the creative Arts and Culture as part of the curriculum due to the popularity of the medium. This allowed us to implement a full program within each of the 7 high schools in which we work. The scope of work covers dance, poetry, acting, singing and visual art, instructed by a professional coordinator.