What Pebbles Project does

Pebbles Project Trust is a South African non-profit organisation founded in 2004, headquartered at Villiera Farm in Stellenbosch, Western Cape, that delivers education, health, and nutrition services to children and young adults from agricultural communities. Its service model is a cradle-to-career continuum organised around five educational programmes: the Early Care and Education Programme (ECEP), Primary Education Programme (PEP), School Enrichment Programme (SEP), Youth Development Programme (YDP), and the Hemel-en-Aarde Education Project (HEAEP), supported by an on-site Health and Wellness Service and a Nutrition Service delivered through Pebbles Kitchen.

The organisation operates a distributed physical footprint across the Western Cape, including the Stellenbosch headquarters and health clinic, the Pebbles Academy in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, a regional office in Citrusdal, a regional office in Grabouw, and the Driscoll's Mobile Health Clinic serving the Clanwilliam area. With approximately 65 staff, it owns and operates its own kitchen, health clinic, academy, and mobile clinic rather than outsourcing service delivery, and holds Public Benefit Organisation (PBO) status with Section 18A tax deductibility, B-BBEE Level 1 certification, and UK charity registration enabling Gift Aid.

The revenue model is donation-dependent and multi-channel: corporate social investment (CSI) contributions, individual donations, legacy bequests, the Woolworths MyDifference retail-loyalty programme, a Hospitality Fundraising Initiative spanning more than 15 wine estate and restaurant partners, and international donation platforms including GivenGain and JustGiving. Go-to-market is community-led, acquiring both beneficiaries and supporters through direct service delivery at farm communities, volunteer programmes, and corporate partnerships. Financial figures are not publicly disclosed.

Name

Pebbles Project

Legal name

The Pebbles Project Trust

Website

https://pebblesproject.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Pebbles Project Trust is a South African non-profit founded in 2004 that delivers education, health, and nutrition services to children and young adults from agricultural communities across the Western Cape through owned facilities and direct service programmes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Social Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Educational Support Services (611710), Community Food Services (624210)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

School Feeding & Social Protection Partnerships (Conditional Cash Transfers, etc.) (EDADALAL), Youth-to-Adult Transition & Life Skills (Independent Living, Soft Skills) (EDAAAFAN)

Keywords

• Community education programmes
• Nonprofit child welfare
• Youth development services
• Community nutrition programmes
• Rural health services

Headquarters

HQ city

Stellenbosch

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The organization raises funds through individual donations, corporate social investment (CSI) contributions, and legacy bequests. Donors can contribute via South African banking details, UK banking details, and international donation platforms including GivenGain and JustGiving. Section 18A tax certificates are available for South African donors.
2. Woolworths MyDifference Loyalty Programme: When supporters shop at Woolworths and use their MyDifference card or app, a portion of their purchase is donated to Pebbles Project. This provides ongoing passive funding from retail purchases.
3. Hospitality Fundraising Initiative: Partner restaurants, hotels, lodges, and wine estates raise funds by displaying information about Pebbles Project, accepting cash donations, and selling Relate Bracelets. One-time and ongoing fundraising support from hospitality partners.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Pebbles Project Trust is a non-profit organization that provides education, health and wellness, and nutrition services to children and young adults from agricultural communities in South Africa's Western Cape. It operates dedicated educational programmes (early childhood through youth development), on-site and mobile health clinics, and a central kitchen preparing meals for beneficiaries, delivering a holistic cradle-to-career support model at no cost to recipients.

Product overview

Pebbles Project is a non-profit organisation operating a holistic ecosystem of programmes and services supporting children and young adults from agricultural communities across the Western Cape. The core offering consists of five interconnected programmes: the Early Care and Education Programme (ECEP), Primary Education Programme (PEP), School Enrichment Programme (SEP), Youth Development Programme (YDP), and the Hemel-en-Aarde Education Project (HEAEP). These educational programmes are complemented by essential support services including the Health and Wellness Service and Nutrition Service. Key facilities include Pebbles Kitchen, Pebbles Health Clinic in Stellenbosch, Pebbles Academy in Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, and the Driscoll's Mobile Health Clinic serving Clanwilliam. The organisation operates across multiple locations including Stellenbosch, Citrusdal, Grabouw, and Clanwilliam, providing comprehensive support from conception to early adulthood.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Pebbles Academy: An educational academy established by Pebbles Project in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley to provide quality education to children from farming communities after a local school closed.
• Pebbles Kitchen
• Pebbles Health Clinic
• Driscoll's Mobile Health Clinic
• Hospitality Fundraising Initiative (HFI)

Products and services

• Early Care and Education Programme (ECEP)

Quantifiable outcome

• 20 years of impact supporting children and families in agricultural communities

Named customers2 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• 96 Winery Road RestaurantminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHospitality partner displaying Pebbles Project information and accepting donations through table stands and donation boxes.
• Blaauwklippen VineyardsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWine estate partner in the Hospitality Fundraising Initiative displaying Pebbles Project materials and accepting donations.
• CederbergminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHospitality partner in the HFI programme supporting Pebbles Project fundraising efforts.
• Clouds EstateminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWine estate partner displaying Pebbles Project information and QR codes for donations.
• Creation WinesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWine estate partner in the Hospitality Fundraising Initiative selling Relate Bracelets and accepting donations.
• DelheimminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWine estate partner displaying Pebbles Project information and donation materials.
• Eikendal StellenboschminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWine estate partner participating in the Hospitality Fundraising Initiative.
• Hartenberg Family VineyardsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWine estate partner in the HFI displaying Pebbles Project information.
• KaapzichtminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWine estate partner in the Hospitality Fundraising Initiative.
• Kleine ZalzeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWine estate partner displaying Pebbles Project materials and QR codes.
• Remhoogte Wine EstateminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWine estate partner in the Hospitality Fundraising Initiative.
• Meerlust FarmminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWine estate partner displaying Pebbles Project information and donation boxes.
• Outdoor EscapeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHospitality partner in the HFI programme.
• Muratie StellenboschminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWine estate partner in the Hospitality Fundraising Initiative.
• Villiera WinesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWine estate partner where the Pebbles Project head office is located at Villiera Farm.
• L'AvenirminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWine estate partner displaying Pebbles Project information.
• WoolworthscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor South African retail chain through the MyDifference loyalty programme. When customers shop and swipe their MyDifference card, Woolworths donates a portion of their purchase to Pebbles Project at no extra cost to the shopper. This is a significant ongoing fundraising channel.
• UN Sustainable Development GoalscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPebbles Project aligns with multiple UN SDGs including No Poverty (SDG 1), Zero Hunger (SDG 2), Good Health (SDG 3), Quality Education (SDG 4), Clean Water (SDG 6), Decent Work (SDG 8), Sustainable Cities (SDG 11), and Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17).
• GivenGaincoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOnline donation platform enabling South African, UK, and international donors to contribute to Pebbles Project. GivenGain is a charity-focused fundraising platform used across multiple regions.
• JustGivingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerUK-focused donation platform enabling UK donors to contribute to Pebbles Project with Gift Aid benefits.
• Driscoll'sminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgricultural company partnership providing a Mobile Health Clinic in Clanwilliam serving farm workers and their families.
• Relate BraceletsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSocial enterprise bracelets sold through Hospitality Fundraising Initiative partners to raise funds and awareness for Pebbles Project.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Driscoll's: A global berry producer with a South African operation that funds and co-operates the Driscoll's Mobile Health Clinic serving Clanwilliam agricultural communities alongside Pebbles. An existing strategic partner and supplier of the mobile clinic asset — relevant as the corporate-benefactor model rather than a competing service provider.
• Stellenbosch Route Unlimited (Stellenbosch 360): A regional destination-marketing and tourism organisation representing Cape Winelands hospitality stakeholders. Relevant as the ecosystem that drives footfall to Pebbles' Hospitality Fundraising Initiative partners (wine estates, restaurants, lodges) — an enabling counterparty rather than a direct programme competitor.

Direct peers

• Cotlands: A South African early childhood development NPO providing ECD programmes to vulnerable children including in farming and rural communities. Directly comparable to Pebbles' Early Care and Education Programme (ECEP) in beneficiary age range, ECD methodology, and under-resourced-community targeting.
• Ikamva Youth: A South African education NGO providing tutoring, mentoring, and youth development support to high-school learners from under-resourced communities, with strong Western Cape presence. Comparable to Pebbles' Youth Development Programme and school-stage interventions in mission, beneficiary cohort, and education-plus-support service model.
• Help2Read: A South African literacy-focused non-profit operating literacy tutor programmes in Western Cape primary schools. Highly comparable to Pebbles' Primary Education Programme and School Enrichment Programme in terms of beneficiary age range, geographic concentration, and NGO delivery model.
• African Children's Feeding Scheme: A South African non-profit delivering daily nutritious meals to underprivileged children across early childhood and primary-school ages. Most directly comparable to Pebbles' Nutrition Service / Pebbles Kitchen operation and shares the donor- and CSI-funded NPO delivery model.

Broad incumbents

• SOS Children's Villages South Africa: An international NGO with a South African affiliate providing residential and community-based care, education, and youth development to children and young people. Comparable in youth development mandate but operates at significantly larger scale and through residential care rather than Pebbles' community-embedded educational-centre model.
• Save the Children South Africa: The South African affiliate of a major international child-rights organisation, delivering education, health, and child-protection programmes. Comparable mission and beneficiary cohort to Pebbles but with a national footprint, broader programmatic portfolio, and brand advantages in institutional donor funding.
• UNICEF South Africa: The UN children's agency operating in South Africa with programmes across education, child health, nutrition, and child protection. Pebbles explicitly aligns its work with multiple UN SDGs that UNICEF advances; comparable at the policy and beneficiary-outcome level but far larger in scale, mandate, and funding access.

Emerging players

• Breadline Africa: A South African NPO focused on food security and school nutrition in underserved communities. Overlaps with Pebbles' nutrition and education missions and shares a community-based, donor-funded operating model, though with a narrower programmatic focus on feeding infrastructure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=NRBrsIrtIRw&feature=youtu.be
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pebbles-project

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Pebbles Project