Boikanyo means to have Faith. The NGO was named after 2 inspirational souls: Boikanyo, a dynamic special 8 year old child, and Dion Herson a philanthropist who loved giving to others.

Boikanyo the Dion Herson Foundation is a non profit organization working with indigent children and their caregivers in impoverished township communities within Gauteng.

OUR VISION:
Nurturing vulnerable and at-risk youth, whether they are able-bodied or differently-abled. We view children holistically, we believe a child has a greater chance if issues are tackled from more than one angle.

OUR MISSION:
We alleviate poverty through networking and partnering with experts in the field. We work a lot with schools, focusing on keeping impoverished children from dropping out by augmenting maths and life skills programs.

Boikanyo the Dion Herson Foundation’s  first project was focused on food security and upskilling caregivers in the community. We planted a 1000m sq vegetable garden at Sediba Thuto High Primary School in Soweto in 2012.  This vegetable garden project afforded us opportunities to gain insight into the multi-factorial challenges facing young people growing up in dire poverty. The children (and caregivers)  whom we assist generally live in child/grandmother and sick mother headed households. Poverty, starvation, crime, abuse, sugar daddies, poor health care, sub optimal schooling and drugs are but some of the many problems they face.

One undeniable fact remains; without education the children of the area have a bleak future. Of the 2019 matric (grade 12) graduation group, only  37% of the children who enrolled in grade 1 wrote the final exams, 12 years later. There are a multitude of problems these children live with, which lessens the likelihood of completing school.

OUR IMPACT:

• Almost R4,4m ($311003,53) of programs, donations and campaigns for the children and their caregivers in Protea South, Mapetla, Chiawelo and surrounds.
• We have instilled a love for maths in hundreds of children who have been part of our maths/life skills initiatives (Noah Project) at 2 high schools in the area. The participating learners gained a sense of great self worth and accomplishment.
• In 2020, another 200 children at Glenridge Primary School will benefit from maths and life skills programs. They too will be part of the Noah Project.
• We secured the construction of a grade R classroom, built from water bottles, at Sediba Thuto High Primary school.
• We have touched the lives of over 12600 children with: blankets for warmth, comfort, cleanliness, dignity, economic opportunities, less absenteeism, full tummy, extra lessons, treats, facilitating education, an improved future, school attendance, improved pass rate, improved morale, comfy feet – shoes and socks, hope, jerseys and school uniforms, humanitarian assistance, disability equipment, veggies, better schooling, life skills programs, access to human rights advocacy.