NextGeneration TeamOurFertileGround

Fertile Ground is a non-profit organisation operating in Cape Town, South Africa. Its overall aim is to equip selected groups, specifically but not exclusively restricted to youth from disadvantaged backgrounds, to become productive adults in society. The vision is to support young people who are vulnerable (due to chronic and life-limiting and potentially life-threatening illness, and disability) to a host of risks as they grapple with the challenges that young people face. We have found that poverty and the lack of creative outlets increases the potential for risk behaviour. Rather than merely providing young people with fun and adventure, Fertile Ground has developed a cycling programme that is engaging, fun, and extends across the childhood and adolescent period into early adulthood. The main reason is that creating a short-lived opportunity may not necessarily produce the positive outcomes for responsible adulthood and civic responsibility that we hope to develop. Therefore this needs to be a sustainable venture that can be reproduced.