Cultural Connections is a non-profit organisation working in coastal Tsitsikamma, Garden Route and Pearston, Karoo, South Africa. We enable collaborations for ecological/human restoration, socio-cultural integration and holistic education.

This we do through Sophakama in Pearston, where we support teacher development with supplementary teachers in schools who assist with extra literacy and teaching. We run and support a gender-based peace group, creative science programme, an Eco Youth Circle, dance club, extra homework and reading, food garden and land restoration at the Sophakama Club.

We connect this work with Bushman's Pillow in Tsitsikamma through an Eco Youth Circle, land restoration, and space for camps, events and accommodation. We bring youth from these areas who are part of the Eco Youth Circles together through camps, and organise exchanges with Reed's School in the UK.

Cultural Connections adopted the asset-based approach to community development (ABCD), which starts with assets, skills and gifts, and is more suitable for the community we aim to assist. At the centre of the approach is, starting with what we have, building with what we know, taking stock of our own assets – personal, social, material, natural and financial – whilst connecting with like-minded people to improve and grow ourselves and our environment.

In this way we put the 'power back into the people', making it easier for individuals to achieve their goals and gain more control over their futures, by drawing out ideas, and fostering collaboration, rather than imposing our will. Alongside ABCD we believe in transformative experiences through exposure and experience, exposing our project members to new ways of thinking and experiences that will enrich them.