Name

Nkosinathi Foundation

Legal name

Nkosinathi Foundation of and for Blind and Partially Sighted People

Website

https://nkosinathifoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1948

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vision Rehabilitation Services

NAICS

Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)

SIC

Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG), Special Education, Disability Support & Inclusive Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAH), Housing Transition & Supported Living Navigation (EDAKANAK)

Keywords

• Vision rehabilitation services
• Assistive skills training
• Employment readiness programmes
• Community field outreach
• Social enterprise crafts

Headquarters

HQ city

Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha)

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: The foundation relies on donations from individuals and organizations to fund operations. One-time and monthly donation options are available. Specific contact for funding: [email protected]
2. Bona uBuntu Bags Product Sales: Handcrafted bags, aprons, and keyrings sold through the foundation's shop. Products are made with South African shweshwe fabric in a no-waste workshop by visually impaired seamstresses.
3. Event-Based Fundraising: Charity events such as the Algoa Cares Charity Golf Day generate donations and sponsorship revenue. Entry fee of R4,000 per 4-ball team.
4. Grant Funding: The foundation maintains existing funding opportunities and seeks new ones through project proposals submission.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Nkosinathi Foundation provides free, comprehensive rehabilitation and support services to blind and partially sighted people across the Eastern Cape, South Africa, organised under four pillars: Urban Rehabilitation for Adults, Rural Rehabilitation through community field workers, Blind Children's Rehabilitation and Development (ages 0–18), and Preparation for Employment and Tertiary Education. Supplementary offerings include an audio library, an internet café for blind users, a low vision resource centre, trauma debriefing, and an income generating training programme. Its commercial arm, Bona uBuntu Bags, sells handcrafted bags, aprons, and keyrings in shweshwe fabric made by visually impaired seamstresses.

Product overview

Nkosinathi Foundation offers a comprehensive rehabilitation model for blind and partially sighted people in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. The organization operates four core service pillars: Urban Rehabilitation for Adults (providing emotional support, living skills training, Braille literacy, and low vision services), Rural Rehabilitation for Adults and Children (delivered through community field workers across rural areas), Blind Children's Rehabilitation and Development (age-tailored programmes from 0-18 years), and Preparation for Employment and Tertiary Education (10-month job readiness programme with computer training). Additionally, the Foundation generates income through its Bona Ubuntu Bags social enterprise, producing handcrafted bags and aprons using South African shweshwe fabric made by visually impaired seamstresses. Other offerings include an Audio Library, Internet Cafe, Low Vision Resource Centre, Income Generating Training, and Trauma Debriefing services. All services are provided free of charge to clients.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Bona uBuntu Bags: A bag and textile product line produced by the organization. Designs are inspired by South African beauty and diversity, primarily using Three Cats De Gama shweshwe fabric unique to the Eastern Cape. The workshop operates on a no-waste principle.

Products and services

• Urban Rehabilitation Services for Adults Comprehensive rehabilitation for blind and partially sighted adults covering emotional support (counselling, support groups), living skills training (orientation, mobility, Braille literacy, adapted daily living skills), and low vision services (assessments, aids, training). Delivered free of charge at the foundation's premises.
• Rural Rehabilitation Services Rehabilitation for blind and partially sighted adults and children in rural Eastern Cape areas, delivered by community field workers who are established members of those communities. Includes emotional support, orientation and mobility, and living skills training.
• Blind Children's Rehabilitation and Development Age-tailored programmes for blind children: parent support and home visits (0-3), preschool group activities (4-7), and counselling plus school placement assistance (8-18).
• Preparation for Employment and Tertiary Education Programme Ten-month programme providing blind and partially sighted adults with computer training (using adapted software), orientation and mobility training, personal development, CV writing, job interview skills, and tertiary education assistance aimed at open labour market integration.
• Comprehensive Audio Library Library with over 200 audio book titles including classics such as Great Expectations and contemporary series such as the Twilight Series, alongside Braille-converted titles and cassette tapes, available for loan to clients.
• Internet Café for Blind and Partially Sighted People First internet café for blind and partially sighted people in the Eastern Cape, providing free internet access by appointment to clients and members.
• Low Vision Resource Centre On-premises facility where clients can view, test, and use a range of low vision equipment options, find suitable choices, and use equipment at the premises by appointment.
• Income Generating Training Training programme for blind and partially sighted people who cannot find work in the open labour market, teaching skills to run a micro business from home with startup capital provided by the foundation.
• Trauma Debriefing Service Support service for individuals who have lost sight partially or completely due to violence or trauma, also available to families and loved ones of survivors.
• Bona uBuntu Bags — Bona uBuntu Bags line Handcrafted bags, aprons, and keyrings produced by the Nkosinathi Foundation workshop using Three Cats De Gama shweshwe fabric unique to the Eastern Cape, on a no-waste model with cutoffs repurposed into patchwork and accessories. Sold via the foundation's online shop to the public.
• Anelisa Apron Apron combining rich thick denim with brightly patterned shweshwe, featuring an adjustable neck strap and functional pocket; targeted at braai masters, aspiring chefs, cafe staff, and workshop employees.
• Otha Apron Apron combining cotton twill and shweshwe panels, designed for braai masters, aspiring chefs, café staff, and workshop employees.
• Nomana Apron Bright and colourful apron named after the head seamstress, suitable for kitchen, braai, or workshop activities.
• Lusa Tote Bag Tote bag named after late junior client Lusanele (Mr Sunshine), suitable for everyday use including beach days or overnight getaways.
• Lindzi Tote Bag Tote bag named after visually impaired seamstress Lindelwa and seamster Mzi, featuring colourful shweshwe patterns and an external pocket for water bottles.
• Elsie Tote Bag First design of the Bona uBuntu Bags label, named after first customer Els from The Netherlands; simple, playful, unlined bag available in multiple colours.
• Keyrings Small accessories made from workshop cutoffs featuring iconic African symbols, available to accompany bags or as standalone keyrings.
• Bona uBuntu Bags — core product line Core handcrafted bag and textile product line produced by the Nkosinathi Foundation workshop using South African shweshwe fabric on a no-waste model, sold via the foundation's online shop.

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Algoa FMminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 March 2024Algoa FM partners with Nkosinathi Foundation for the annual Algoa Cares Charity Golf Day. The foundation is the beneficiary of this fundraising event, with prizes including a R30,000 advertising campaign with Algoa FM.
• Royal Dutch VisiocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch partner organization with whom Nkosinathi Foundation shares the Bona uBuntu programme. Merel's internship was with Royal Dutch Visio, and the partnership involves sharing the Bona uBuntu programme between South Africa and The Netherlands. An experienced team member from Royal Dutch Visio conducted a 3-day parent empowerment training alongside Merel.
• MBATminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMBAT participated in Mandela Day activities with Nkosinathi Foundation in 2016, engaging with members through volunteer activities.
• MFTminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMFT participated in Mandela Day activities with Nkosinathi Foundation in 2016.
• Nelson Mandela University Department of Nursing ScienceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual partnership as part of the university's Community Resource Project. The foundation provides awareness talks about the organization, sensitization towards blind and partially sighted persons, soft skills training including sighted guide training, and equips nurses on how to treat blind clients in their workplaces.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Light for the World: International disability inclusion organisation working across eye health, rehabilitation and inclusive education in Africa. Comparable programmatic overlap with Nkosinathi's rehabilitation mandate.
• CBM (Christian Blind Mission): Large international INGO focused on disability inclusion in low- and middle-income countries, including South Africa. Comparable as a funder/operator in the disability services space though broader in scope.
• Perkins School for the Blind: Long-established US-based institution providing education and rehabilitation services for blind and deafblind persons; comparable as a heritage provider of comprehensive disability services.

Direct peers

• Blind SA: South African membership-based organisation of and for blind and partially sighted people providing rehabilitation, advocacy and skills training. Highly comparable in mission and beneficiary segment.
• Guide Dogs South Africa: SA-focused nonprofit providing orientation & mobility services, including guide dog training, for blind and visually impaired persons. Overlaps directly with Nkosinathi's O&M training pillar.
• Royal Dutch Visio: Dutch organisation for blind and partially sighted people offering rehabilitation, education and residential services — and a current strategic partner of Nkosinathi sharing the Bona uBuntu programme.
• South African National Council for the Blind (SANCB): Umbrella body coordinating blindness-related services across South Africa, including rehabilitation, education and employment programmes. Directly comparable as a national-scale disability NGO operating in the same beneficiary population.

Emerging players

• Retina South Africa: South African nonprofit focused specifically on retinal degenerative conditions; partial overlap on low-vision and rehabilitation support for the visually impaired community.
• Sense International: International NGO supporting people with deafblindness and complex disabilities, active in parts of Africa; thematically adjacent given overlapping rehabilitation and assistive service delivery.

Regional players

• South African Disability Alliance (SADA): Cross-disability umbrella advocacy alliance in South Africa; comparable as a national-level disability sector coordinator, but with a broader cross-disability remit.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Nkosinathi-Foundation-Breaking-Barriers-of-Blindess-173824629655304
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nkosinathi-foundation

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Nkosinathi Foundation