mamelani
Mamelani Projects is a Cape Town-based nonprofit that builds resilience in marginalised South African communities through community health programmes, youth transitional support for care leavers, and grassroots leadership development. It serves women, youth, and grandmothers across Western and Eastern Cape.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersCape Town, South Africa
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What mamelani does
Mamelani Projects is a registered South African nonprofit organisation (NPO 028-695) and Public Benefit Organisation (PBO 930-012-708) founded in 2003 in Cape Town, operating primarily across Western Cape and Eastern Cape. The organisation runs three interconnected programme pillars: Community Health and Well-being (Wellness Workshops, nine community-based ARV Adherence Clubs delivered in partnership with Kuyasa Clinic achieving a 97% adherence rate among 195 HIV-positive patients, and the Masikhulisane Bogogo grandmothers network); Youth Resilience (the ProSeed three-year transitional support programme for youth leaving Child and Youth Care Centres at age 18, supplemented by the Building Bridges forum for youth with migration backgrounds and the Youth Change Makers advocacy network, with over 80% of ProSeed participants remaining engaged in further education, training, or employment); and Community Development (Community Champions capacity-building programme, quarterly community gatherings, and COVID-19 emergency relief that supported 500 families with food vouchers). Mamelani complements direct service delivery with systemic advocacy, contributing to the 2019 National Child Care and Protection Policy and 2020 Independent Living Programme guidelines.
The underlying 'platform' is relational rather than technological: services are delivered in-person at community venues across Khayelitsha, Kuyasa, Samora Machel, Mfulene, Site B, Philippi, and Macassar, with communication and emergency outreach routed through WhatsApp, Google Hangouts, and Zoom. There is no proprietary software product, public API, or mobile application; community facilitators, mentors, and champions are the primary delivery mechanism.
Mamelani's revenue model is donation- and grant-driven. Funding comes from individual donations (via SnapScan, EFT, once-off, or monthly recurring), corporate donations, institutional grants from the World Childhood Foundation and Stephen Lewis Foundation, and fundraising events including the Cape Town Cycle Tour, Three Peaks Challenge, Impi Challenge, Comrades Marathon, and the Mamelani Movers peer-to-peer campaign. Beneficiaries do not pay for participation. The organisation was awarded Gold at the Department of Social Development's 2016 Youth Excellence Awards for the ProSeed Youth Programme and is led by Director Gerald Jacobs following a 2018 succession from founder Carly Tanur.
mamelani firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- mamelani
- Legal name
- Mamelani Projects
- Website
- https://mamelani.org.za
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Mamelani Projects is a Cape Town-based nonprofit that builds resilience in marginalised South African communities through community health programmes, youth transitional support for care leavers, and grassroots leadership development. It serves women, youth, and grandmothers across Western and Eastern Cape.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
mamelani industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Development and Social Services
- NAICS
- Child and Youth Services (62411), Individual and Family Services (6241), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Social Assistance (624)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAO)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Community Health, Prevention & Health Education (BPAGACAC), Health Promotion, Prevention & Community Health Programs (BPAIAJAC), Youth Justice, At-Risk Youth & Violence Prevention Nonprofits (BPAGADAM)
Keywords
Where mamelani is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cape Town
- HQ country
- South Africa
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices1 record
Markets served
mamelani business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Grants: Mamelani raises funds through individual donations, corporate donations, and institutional grants. The organization has section 18A Public Benefit Organisation (PBO) Status, making donations tax-deductible in South Africa. Donations are accepted via SnapScan, EFT, once-off, or monthly recurring. Fundraising events such as the Cape Town Cycle Tour, Three Peaks Challenge, and Mamelani Movers campaigns also generate revenue.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
mamelani product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Mamelani Projects is a Cape Town-based nonprofit that delivers community development, youth resilience, and community health programmes to marginalised communities in South Africa. Its core offerings include the ProSeed Youth Programme providing three-year transitional support for youth leaving alternative care, community-based ARV Adherence Clubs for people living with HIV in partnership with Kuyasa Clinic, Wellness Workshops on nutrition, TB and HIV, the Community Champions Programme for grassroots leaders, the Masikhulisane Bogogo grandmothers network, and COVID-19 relief support including food vouchers. All programmes are delivered free of charge to beneficiaries and funded through donations and grants.
Product overview
Mamelani Projects is a nonprofit organization offering three interconnected programme areas: Community Health & Well-being, Youth Resilience, and Community Development. The Community Health & Well-being initiative includes Wellness Workshops and Community ARV Adherence Clubs serving HIV-positive patients. The Youth Resilience Initiative centers on the ProSeed programme for youth transitioning from alternative care, complemented by Building Bridges forums and Youth Change Makers advocacy network. Community Development encompasses the Community Champions Programme, Community Gatherings, and COVID-19 Relief efforts. Cross-cutting initiatives include Talking Transitions practitioner dialogues and Capacity Building services for partner organizations. The organization does not operate a traditional tech product; these are social programmes delivered through direct service delivery, workshops, mentoring, and community organizing.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- ProSeed Youth Programme A three-year integrated systems-wide support programme for youth transitioning out of Child and Youth Care Centres at age 18, providing individual mentoring, experiential group sessions, internships, practical support, and a youth network. Designed for young people leaving alternative care in Cape Town.
- Community ARV Adherence Clubs Nine community-based adherence clubs facilitated in partnership with Kuyasa Clinic, providing people living with HIV with quick access to medication, user-friendly care, and peer support through bi-monthly group sessions. Achieved a 97% adherence rate.
- Wellness Workshops Community-based health and well-being workshops covering nutrition, chronic diseases of lifestyle, TB and HIV, creating safe spaces for participants to share health challenges and access support. Reported 97% increased health literacy among participants.
- Community Champions Programme A programme partnering with community champions to strengthen their capacity as leaders, providing mentoring, capacity building, skills training, and learning opportunities to promote health, well-being, and resilience in their communities.
- Building Bridges Forum A youth-led forum providing young people with migration backgrounds a safe space to discuss and explore challenges they face in navigating issues of identity, belonging, and resilience.
- Youth Change Makers A network of youth leaders advocating for systemic change in the alternative care sector, receiving ongoing coaching, resources, and opportunities to influence child protection and youth policy.
- Masikhulisane Bogogo (Grandmothers Network) A network supporting over 100 grandmothers who lead change and support others in their communities, strengthening skills and knowledge to better support children with HIV, victims of sexual violence, and those who have lost loved ones.
- Community Gatherings Quarterly gatherings bringing together youth, women, and community change makers to connect with each other and feel supported in their efforts to shape their communities.
- COVID-19 Relief and Support Emergency response programme supporting youth, families, and community support groups with monthly food vouchers (reaching 500 families), emotional support, debriefing, and health information sharing via WhatsApp chat groups, Google Hangouts, and Zoom.
- Capacity Building Services Training and consultation services working alongside practitioners and organisations, including CYCCs and Home from Home cluster foster care, to develop transitional support and after-care services that promote well-being, build resilience, and create a sense of community.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 80% of youth in ProSeed programme remain engaged in further education, training, and employment
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use mamelani
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
mamelani technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
mamelani partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- National Child Care Protection Forum (NCCP)coreMamelani participates in the NCCP as a member organisation, contributing to national advocacy efforts for transitional support and child protection policy reform.
- National Association of Child and Youth Care Workers (NACCW)coreMamelani is a member of the NACCW, contributing to sector-wide advocacy and policy development for youth in alternative care.
- Department of Social DevelopmentcoreMamelani works in partnership with the Department of Social Development at both provincial and national levels. The partnership includes facilitating a Capacity Building intervention with 6 Child and Youth Care Centres, and joint advocacy for transitional support in legislation including the Children's Act amendments.
- Child and Youth Care Centres (CYCCs)coreMamelani partners with approximately 5-9 CYCCs (varying over time) to deliver the ProSeed transitional support programme and to build the capacity of centre staff. Partners have included Home from Home (cluster foster care).
- Kuyasa CliniccoreMamelani facilitates 9 community-based ARV Adherence Clubs in partnership with Kuyasa Clinic, providing HIV-positive patients with community-based access to medication, peer support, and reduced clinic waiting times.
- MSF-SA (Doctors Without Borders South Africa)minorMamelani partnered with MSF-SA to establish and run ARV adherence groups at Kuyasa Clinic, providing community-based HIV care and treatment access.
- TB/HIV CareminorMamelani collaborated with TB/HIV Care as part of joint implementation of health education work and learning exchanges.
- Treatment Action Campaign (TAC)minorMamelani partnered with TAC in learning exchange groups focused on health education work, sharing information and facilitation tips.
- PhilaniminorMamelani partnered with Philani as part of learning exchanges on health education and community health programme delivery.
- City of Cape Town M-Sat TeamsminorMamelani collaborated with the City of Cape Town's M-Sat teams for joint health programme implementation and TB awareness days.
- PATHminorMamelani facilitators attended a digital storytelling workshop facilitated by PATH, focused on the new female condom, learning video production skills for health education.
- Home from HomecoreMamelani partners with Home from Home (an organisation working with over 30 cluster foster homes) to develop an approach for working with youth transitioning from foster care, extending capacity building support to their social workers and foster mothers.
- Children's InstituteminorMamelani engaged with the Children's Institute in discussions on the new Child Care and Protection Policy in Johannesburg.
- Centre for Child LawminorMamelani engaged with the Centre for Child Law in policy deliberations on the Child Care and Protection Policy.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
mamelani competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Salesian Institute Youth Projects: The Salesian Institute runs youth-focused skills training, alternative care, and youth development programmes in Cape Town and the Western Cape, serving marginalised youth populations with comparable missions to Mamelani's ProSeed transitional support work.
- Philani: Philani is a Cape Town-based nonprofit operating in similar township communities (Khayelitsha) with comparable community health worker home-visiting models, maternal/child nutrition focus, and mentorship of community champions. Mamelani explicitly cites Philani as a learning exchange partner, indicating close programmatic comparability.
- Nkosi's Haven: Nkosi's Haven provides holistic care for HIV/AIDS-affected mothers and children in Gauteng, South Africa. Like Mamelani's ARV Adherence Clubs and Grandmothers Network, it addresses HIV-positive women, children, and families through community-based care models in South Africa.
- Grassroot Soccer: Grassroot Soccer is a South African-originated global youth health organisation using sports-based programming for HIV prevention and adolescent health. Both organisations operate community health programmes targeting youth in Southern Africa with measurable health literacy outcomes.
- Treatment Action Campaign (TAC): TAC is a South African HIV/AIDS advocacy and community mobilisation organisation. Mamelani partners with TAC in learning exchange groups on health education work, and both organisations operate at the intersection of community-level HIV support and systemic policy advocacy in South Africa.
- Ikamva Labantu: Ikamva Labantu is a Cape Town-based community development nonprofit supporting vulnerable children, families, and elderly populations through grassroots programmes. Like Mamelani, it operates a community champions model, focuses on Cape Town townships, and builds capacity of local leaders.
- TB/HIV Care: TB/HIV Care is a South African NGO focused on community-based HIV/TB care and treatment literacy, and is a documented Mamelani learning exchange partner. Both organizations deliver community-level HIV education, adherence support, and TB/HIV health programming in similar geographies.
- Home from Home: Home from Home operates over 30 cluster foster homes in the Western Cape and partners directly with Mamelani on the ProSeed transitional support programme, extending capacity building to their social workers and foster mothers. Both organizations serve youth in alternative care with comparable wraparound support models.
Broad incumbents
- Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation: The Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation conducts HIV research, treatment, and community-based prevention programmes in Cape Town. It operates in overlapping geographies and addresses similar community HIV and adolescent health priorities as Mamelani's wellness and adherence programmes, though at a broader research-focused scale.
- SOS Children's Villages: SOS Children's Villages is a large global organisation providing alternative care and family-based support for children without parental care. It addresses the same broader population (youth in alternative care) that Mamelani's ProSeed programme serves, but at significantly larger global scale.
Market position
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
mamelani social profiles
Digital presencemamelani compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
mamelani financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
mamelani leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles19 records
mamelani funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
mamelani M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about mamelani
What does mamelani do?
Mamelani Projects is a Cape Town-based nonprofit that delivers community development, youth resilience, and community health programmes to marginalised communities in South Africa. Its core offerings include the ProSeed Youth Programme providing three-year transitional support for youth leaving alternative care, community-based ARV Adherence Clubs for people living with HIV in partnership with Kuyasa Clinic, Wellness Workshops on nutrition, TB and HIV, the Community Champions Programme for grassroots leaders, the Masikhulisane Bogogo grandmothers network, and COVID-19 relief support including food vouchers. All programmes are delivered free of charge to beneficiaries and funded through donations and grants.
Is mamelani a public or private company?
mamelani is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was mamelani founded?
mamelani was founded in 2003. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is mamelani based?
mamelani is headquartered in Cape Town, South Africa, in the Africa region.
How does mamelani make money?
One revenue line is on record: donations and Grants.
Who are mamelani's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Salesian Institute Youth Projects, Philani, Nkosi's Haven, Grassroot Soccer, Treatment Action Campaign (TAC), Ikamva Labantu, TB/HIV Care and Home from Home. Broad incumbents are Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation and SOS Children's Villages.
Does mamelani have an API?
No public API is recorded for mamelani.
What industry is mamelani in?
mamelani's product category is Community Development and Social Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGADAO, Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits, with a secondary code of BPAGACAC, Community Health, Prevention & Health Education. Its NAICS code is 62411 and its SIC code is 8300.