A new Ballito-based initiative aims to connect high school pupils with local organisations where they can complete community service while making a meaningful contribution.

Cultivating Possibilities, founded by retired educator Karenne Jo Bloomgarden, is being developed as an online resource linking pupils with non-profit organisations, community groups, schools and programmes that need volunteers. She said the idea grew from her experience working with private school pupils who are required to complete 20 hours of community service as part of their Life Orientation programme.

“Cultivating Possibilities is about more than completing a school requirement,” said Bloomgarden.

“It is about giving young people the opportunity to discover that they can contribute, that their ideas matter and that even small acts of service can make a meaningful difference in someone else’s life.”

Over the years, pupils Bloomgarden has worked with have tackled a wide range of projects, from creating vegetable gardens and school libraries to cleaning up storm-damaged schools and collecting resources for crèches. Others have helped children with reading and homework, distributed donated school uniforms, made educational toys from recycled materials and spent time playing with and reading to children at local crèches.

Bloomgarden said these experiences can also change how pupils see their communities and themselves.
She also encourages pupils to arrange their own placements rather than relying on their parents, helping them develop communication skills, confidence, responsibility and independence. As parents generally provide transport, Cultivating Possibilities is primarily looking for opportunities within about 20 minutes of Ballito.

Bloomgarden is now calling on local non-profit organisations, schools and community groups that could benefit from young volunteers to join the growing network.

She hopes the initiative will make it easier for pupils to find worthwhile opportunities while giving local organisations access to young people eager to lend a hand.

“The possibilities are endless when students are given the opportunity to look around their community and ask, ‘What can we do to help?'” said Bloomgarden.

To sign up or learn more visit cultivatingpossibilities.co.za or email info@cultivatingpossibilities.co.za.