We are working and investing in a community called Ocean View, where about 40’000 ‚coloured' (a South African term used for those who are not 'black' or 'white') people live. Ocean View was born as a township during Apartheid, built for the forcefully removed colured people from around the area. Ocean View is built on a hillside with a truly lovely view of the ocean! The coloured people are lively, loud, good entertainers and have a love for good music and dance. 

There are though also multiple challenges facing the people here. High unemployment, drugs, crime, prostitution and young people falling out of school are daily issues we encounter. Be believe God is busy doing something special! God is moving here even if it’s not always seen. 

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HopeTown became an NGO and legal entity in 2022 and transitioned into an NPO in 2023. We have a wonderful board of local South Africans supporting HopeTown in the background. 

Please see our NPO certificate here. 

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Unconventional Community

We want to bring hope and perspective to the young people at risk. In 2016 we founded HopeTown, a Youth Community and Youth Movement in Ocean View. We gather with different age and interest groups in our HopeTown Base and eat together, listen to each other and to God and experience a kind of a family what supports each other and where people find a place of belonging. Our family members are not those you would easily find in church. Gang members, teenage mother and fathers, school drop outs and young people who struggle with addiction learn to love each other and are discovering God. Our HopeTown family is diverse, wild and imperfect and hungry for change.

 

We believe that the Holy Spirit is busy changing their hearts from inside out. We believe unconventional love means to accept the fact that the people are on a journey to find true identity. Out of experience we know, this journey is often longer then we hoped for. We invest with a long term perspective and live like we would never leave.

We love this wonderful Hopetown family and we pray for lives filled with passion and purpose for them. We know that healthy life, freedom and healing is only coming through Jesus.

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HopeTown grew over the last years of it's existence and various projects and life-changing initiatives were developed. We have a great team on the ground doing amazing work. 

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HopeTown Youth Centre
We serve around 150 children and teenagers every week through 13 different youth programmes. Each space is designed to support, guide, and build young people from within the community.

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HopeTown Academy
We have established a high school specifically for young people who have dropped out of the education system. This is not a typical school—we work with students who are often caught in cycles of addiction, crime, and deep personal challenges. Our goal is to help them achieve a Grade 9 qualification, opening a real pathway for their future in South Africa.

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HopeTown Internship Programme
We run a four-step programme for unemployed youth who are struggling to find stability in life. Step by step, we help them grow into confidence and responsibility. The programme leads into an apprenticeship-style training in practical skills, with the goal of helping each participant find and keep meaningful employment.

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Eden Community House
Our community house creates a safe and supportive environment for young people coming from difficult backgrounds. The focus is on building a healthy lifestyle, learning to make good choices, and developing strong personal foundations.

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HopeTown Crèche
Starting in May 2026, we are launching a crèche for babies and toddlers of our internship participants. Many of these young mothers are teenagers who feel overwhelmed by life and parenting. We provide a safe, loving space for their children while walking alongside the mothers, helping them grow into confident and healthy parents.

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HopeTown Social Business
We run a social enterprise with two physical shops and an online store. Every product sold contributes to the sustainability of HopeTown. Our long-term goal is to reach 50% self-sustainability by 2030, covering our programmes and salaries through our own income. We believe in modelling initiative, responsibility, and dignity through building a professional business.

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HopeTown Team
Our team is steadily growing as we continue to plant new initiatives in Ocean View and beyond. We currently have 23 employees across different areas of the organisation. Each team member works on a 43-hour contract with clear job responsibilities. This creates a culture of accountability, growth, and strong work ethic.
We believe in modelling what we teach, social justice in the workplace is not just an idea, but something we live out daily as a team, including our international staff.

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