Partner - Happy Feets

Our Partners

Thanks to the valuable support of our partners and sponsors, we can make a direct difference for children in Africa. Their contributions ensure that classrooms are stocked with schoolbooks and that children can enjoy themselves with high-quality sports equipment. Together, we give them the tools to learn, play, and grow.

This is where everything began.

Umkumbe Bush Lodge is not just a partner – it is the origin of Happy Feets. It was here that the first encounter took place, a moment that led to supporting a child’s education and ultimately grew into everything that exists today.

From the very beginning, the people at Umkumbe have been by our side. They supported our first steps, helped us realise our earliest projects and continue to stand with us to this day. Whether through practical support on the ground, providing accommodation during project phases or simply being present when help is needed – they have always been there.

What makes this partnership so special is the personal connection. Many of the individuals connected to our projects have direct ties to the lodge. Families we support are part of the Umkumbe team, and over time, these relationships have grown into something much deeper than a typical partnership.

This support comes not only from the team on the ground, but especially from the owners themselves, who have believed in our work from the very beginning. Together with their staff and guides, they continue to support us with advice, experience and genuine commitment whenever it is needed.

Umkumbe is not just where our journey started – it is a place that continues to shape it.

Sport as a Platform for Development

Sport plays a central role in our work. It creates structure, builds confidence and connects people beyond language and background.

Through our partnership with the Hot Pirates Football Club,

https://www.instagram.com/hotpiratesfootball?igsh=MWh6NDNrbTd6MDdlNQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

young people have access to regular training and mentorship. The club is led by Clerence Mkansi, who plays a key role in connecting community structures and projects on the ground.

Coaches from the club are actively involved in our school and support the development of football and netball as part of the curriculum.

These partnerships show that impact is not only financial – knowledge, time and material support are equally valuable.

Savanna Game Lodge

Through this partnership, we are able to work closely within the local community and connect different initiatives in a meaningful and practical way. A key part of this collaboration is our relationship with Sandile, the Community Manager, who plays a central role in bridging the gap between our work and the local structures. His support is essential, especially when it comes to communication, coordination and understanding the needs within the community.

Beyond this, Savanna provides ongoing support in many practical ways. From helping manage local payments and logistics to offering accommodation close to our project sites, they enable us to work more efficiently and stay connected to what is happening on the ground.

A particularly important aspect of this partnership is the connection between the Savannah Trust and our school. Children from the orphanage supported by the Savannah Trust, who find sponsors through guests of the lodge, are given the opportunity to attend the Govern Psy Educational Center.

This creates a powerful link between existing initiatives: instead of working separately, support flows from one system into another – opening up real educational opportunities for children who might otherwise not have access.

Savanna Game Lodge represents a partnership that is deeply rooted in the community and focused on long-term impact. It is not just about support, but about building structures that work together and create lasting change.

Gotombi Afrika is a partner built on personal connection and shared values.

We met África, one of the founders of Gotombi, in South Africa while she was working as a safari guide at Umkumbe Bush Lodge. It was one of those encounters that felt natural from the very beginning – shaped by a shared understanding of the country, its people and the realities beyond tourism.

In many ways, this is where the circle closes: the same place where Happy Feets began also became the starting point of this partnership.

Today, Gotombi offers individual travel experiences across Africa, including South Africa, with a strong focus on responsible tourism and authentic connections. They are currently expanding their network of local guides, continuing to build experiences that go beyond traditional travel.

Even beyond travel, Gotombi supports our work directly. A portion of their donations contributes to Happy Feets, and they are always ready to step in when support is needed – especially in moments that require quick and flexible help.

What makes this partnership special is its foundation: not a formal agreement, but a shared belief in creating meaningful impact. It is a connection that grew organically and continues to develop with trust, commitment and a common vision.

Tiso – Happy Feets Daycare

Tiso is the heart of our daycare in Huntington.

For many of the children, she is far more than a caregiver. She is a constant presence, a teacher, a protector and often a second mother. Every day, she creates a space where children feel safe, seen and cared for – regardless of the challenges they face outside.

Her work begins early in the morning and continues throughout the day. She prepares meals, organises activities, teaches, sings and gives each child the attention they need. With patience, warmth and quiet strength, she has built a place that is defined by trust and stability.

Tiso has dedicated years of her life to this work. She does it not for recognition, but because she believes in what she is building. Her faith and her deep connection to the community guide everything she does.

Without her, the daycare would not exist in the way it does today. She represents what our work is truly about: care, responsibility and long-term commitment from within the community itself.

Clerence Mkansi – Community Liaison & Partner on the Ground

Clerence Mkansi is one of the key people connecting our work to the local community.

Through his role as Community Liaison Manager, he acts as a bridge between lodges, local initiatives and the people on the ground. His deep understanding of the community, combined with his ability to connect different structures, makes him an essential part of how we work.

From the very beginning, Clerence has supported us in navigating local realities – from communication and coordination to building trust within the community. His insight, experience and presence help ensure that projects are not only implemented, but truly understood and supported by the people they are meant to serve.

He is also closely involved in the Hot Pirates Football Club, where he contributes to creating structure and opportunities for young people through sport.

What makes Clerence’s role so important is not only what he does, but how he does it: with commitment, responsibility and a genuine connection to the people around him.

He represents the link between ideas and reality – turning intentions into impact on the ground.

The Kruger Gate Hotel

Has become an important place for us during our time on the ground.

Due to its close proximity to our project areas, it allows us to stay connected to our work while being based in a central and accessible location. This has made a real difference in how efficiently we can organise and manage our time on site.

During our stays, we have experienced a very supportive and open environment. The team has welcomed us and made it possible for us to stay at reduced rates, which allows us to allocate more of our resources directly to our projects.

At the same time, the hotel offers an accessible option for travellers who want to experience the region without staying in private safari lodges. This creates an interesting opportunity to connect visitors with the community and the work happening beyond the typical travel experience.

We are currently getting to know each other and exploring ways in which this relationship could develop further over time.

It is a connection that is still growing – with a lot of potential for the future.

The BML Group is the foundation behind Happy Feets.

As the main supporter, BML provides the financial stability that allows us to develop and grow our projects over the long term. A significant part of our work is made possible through this ongoing commitment.

At the same time, Happy Feets is not intended to stand alone. From the beginning, the idea has been to build something that connects people and creates a wider network of support.

BML represents the starting point – a structure that makes it possible to act, to take responsibility and to turn ideas into reality. It reflects the belief that economic success and social responsibility can go hand in hand.

Our goal is to use this foundation to grow a network of partners who contribute in different ways – whether through financial support, resources, knowledge or shared initiatives.

Because lasting impact is not created alone, but together.

Nicole Langholz

Nicole Langholz is a photographer who has helped make our work visible in a very unique and meaningful way.

She accompanied us to South Africa, documenting our projects through her lens with a strong sense of sensitivity and respect. Her approach is quiet and attentive, focusing on real moments rather than staged scenes. The result is a series of portraits that reflect dignity, authenticity and genuine human connection.

During her time with us, she worked closely with the children in our daycare, creating images that show them as they are – confident, present and full of life. These photographs are not just documentation; they tell stories.

Back in Europe, her work was presented in an exhibition, bringing these stories to a wider audience. The photographs are available for purchase, and a portion of the proceeds directly supports our projects. In addition, bookings for her photography also contribute to our work.

What makes this partnership special is the cycle it creates: moments captured in South Africa are shared elsewhere, generating support that flows back into the community where those moments began.

Through her work, visibility becomes impact.

Its not just about water.

It’s about giving something back.

About creating chances where they are needed most.

Because every small improvement changes more than we can see.