Seen from the squatter's camp in Franschhoek, Western Cape, South Africa.

Thank you for visiting the Franschhoek Belgian Development Trust website.

We welcome you and wish to express our sincere appreciation for your interest in our village and for giving us the opportunity to share with you, and invite you to participate in, our vision for the beautiful Franschhoek Valley.

This vision is to create, through the meeting of social needs and education, an environment and culture which will empower the disadvantaged young people of the Franschhoek Rural Community (see picture) to uplift themselves and lead fulfilling and productive lives. An upliftment which will enhance the quality of life for the children, their families and their neighbours.

To support the attainment of this vision, Franschhoek, through the generosity of the Belgian Government, has been granted the services of 12 Belgian teachers, per annum for the next 3 years, who will instruct the 3006 children of the Valley in life skills subjects which are not included in the South African schools curriculum. These young teachers have already arrived in the village and are fired with enthusiasm for their mission but frustrated and handicapped in their efforts by the inadequate buildings (see picture) and lack of equipment.

Should you be able to support the projects listed in any way, which are listed in the following pages, please read the section headed "Participation" at the end of this site.

In pursuit of the mission to enrich the lives of the more than 3000 disadvantaged children of Franschhoek it is essential that full advantage is taken of the 3 year secondment by the Belgian government of 12 teachers to the 6 schools of the Valley.

93% of the Department of Education budget is spent on teachers' salaries, leaving a totally inadequate 7% for teaching materials, maintenance of buildings, running costs etc.

There is no budget for life skills subject teachers like art, music and computer science.