There’s a company you should know about that’s doing fantastic work among the disadvantaged, and that leads the way when it comes to leveraging  the good that tourism can do.

Uthando (Love) South Africa – www.uthandosa.org – is a unique and innovative non-profit that’s accredited with Fair Trade in Tourism and that works to raise funds and other forms of assistance for community development projects.

It also offers authentic, uplifting, fun, inspirational, interactive and meaningful tours for FITs as well as groups of any size in the sprawling and impoverished townships of Cape Town.

They offer daily scheduled tours, and they can tailor make private tours to suit particular interests (urban agriculture; animal welfare; youth development through art, dance, choir singing, classical music, drumming or sport; special needs education; assistance to refugees; the environment; economic empowerment through skills development; arts and crafts; township theatre; prisoner rehabilitation; care and protection for children, women and the elderly; etc.).

Uthando is run by friend James Fernie, who recently e-mailed this message: “Someone asked me the other day on tour how I don’t get despondent with the overwhelming need that exists, and my reply was ‘We change the world one person at a time.’

“Life is tough out there and getting more difficult everyday. Inflation and food inflation especially is spiralling out of control, and together with increased job losses and cut backs from government life is becoming very difficult indeed for everyone in the world, but especially people already living on the poverty line.”

Uthando helps with a number of wonderful projects, and you can help, too, by supporting the project of your choice (for example by buying their products), or by booking a tour when next you bring clients to Cape Town.

Here’s one example of what Uthando’s doing:

“Deep inside an informal settlement in Khayelitsha, Uthando is assisting the Thokozani Brothers Youth Development Project with the building a community centre,” wrote James.

“Thokozani Brothers is a non-profit organization which was established in 1997 by ten young men who started singing Isicathamiya – a traditional form of music.

“Mhlangabezi Masizana manages the youth development project on a daily basis, teaching the children in Khayelitsha singing, dancing and life skills.

“Thokozani Brothers was founded in response to the social challenges under which individuals in their community find themselves, especially the youth. Many children are involved in criminal activities as there are no other recreational outlet for them, and that is why Thokozani Brothers has become so important in their community today. They have acquired a piece of land and a with the help of Uthando SA are setting up a centre and safe haven where children can be taken care of and mentored every day.

“They also aim  to become self-sustainable through performing gigs for companies, travel groups and at functions. The adult choir has sung internationally in Europe and Mexico.”

Videos of their performances have been posted to YouTube: The children performing the township jive here  - and the Thokozani Brothers at the Uthando Benefit Concert in May 2011 here

The group is available for performances in Cape Town.

For more information, contact James Fernie at info [at] uthandosa.org or visit www.uthandosa.org

The Thokozani Brothers at the Uthando Benefit Concert in May 2011