Our Beginnings (1999-2005)
In the early days, building was a significant part of our work. We put up 23 houses, a crèche and a community library. From this point we gradually developed our education programmes and education, from pre-school to adult learning, is now our principal objective and activity.
Sosebenza Youth Centre (Built 2001)
In 2001, Masi Corp partnered with the Sosebenza Youth Group to build the Masiphumelele Youth Centre. John Thompson purchased the land on which the Youth Centre is built, a Grant was awarded to the Group by a German Organisation to start a Greening Programme on the land The Youth Centre itself was a constant hive of activity with young people practising computer skills, weight lifting, playing chess and running the office. Many of the original Sosebenza members are now employed, having been sponsored in training appropriate to their drives and passions.
Masiphumelele Library - Onwards and Upwards (2008)
The small library built by Masicorp in 2003 has been expanded twice and is now the centre of learning in the community. In 2008 an extra wing was added to the building, providing a shaded courtyard area and extra teaching /meeting rooms.
The library now lends out over 40,000 books per year. Masicorp helps support the many programs offered from adult literacy to homework clubs. A computer centre provides training and community access to the Internet. Masicorp has handed the library buildings over to City of Cape Town, but library space is still provided to us free of charge to use for our programmes. Masicorp continues to provide the equipment and human resources for its educational programmes.
Our Educare Centres
Masicorp currently runs educare centres to provide ECD education to the children of Masiphumelele. In 2013, the city of Cape Town gave Masicorp the remit to make Masi Educare sustainable. Renovations and staff training were complited in 2015 and the Educare received its official registration certificate from the department of social development. In 2017 Masicorp started running Chasmay Educare, Renovations were completed early 2019 and in 2021, we opened our third ECD centre, Sunnydale Educare. Today, over 400 children receive affordable, quality early childhood education.
Doreen Zanyiwe’s Creche and Day Care Centre (Built 2001)
In 2001, Masicorp partnered with Doreen Zanyiwe and built the Ikhaya Labantwana Crèche to transform a child care centre run out of a one-room shack into a spacious, well-lit, two story facility. This pre-school facility now employs eight people and looks after more than 80 children between the ages of 2 and 5.
Our First MAJOR Project - Masiphumelele Library (Built 2003)
The township's library was built in 2003 by Masicorp and opened its doors on 15 September 2003 as a satellite of Fish Hoek Library. Masiphumelele Corporation went on to build the double storey extension in 2005 and a park in front of the library in 2006.
Masiphumelele Library initially operated with donations of books from South Africa and abroad until the Western Cape Provincial Library Services came on board with book stock. Contract staff from Fish Hoek operated the library from 2003 onwards. Their salaries were subsidized by funding from Masiphumelele Corporation to keep the library open for longer hours and to support the outreach programmes. The library now has a fully equiped computer lab providing free computer classes to the people of Masi.
Our Founders (2009)
After more than 10 years of work founding, fund raising and managing Masicorp, John and Carol Thompson have ‘retired’ from active duty in SA. They continue to lead our fundraising in USA and they remain Directors and a source of help and inspiration for us all.
They are two very remarkable and generous people. Through their work and leadership with Masicorp, they have made a very positive difference to the lives of many people in Masiphumelele.