Kurland Village

Kurland Village is a small community of about 6,000 people just outside of Plettenberg Bay, South Africa.  Kurland is home to primarily “Coloured” and Xhosa families, some families have been there for over 50 years while other may have arrived in the last couple months. Kurland is a place of filled with life and resilience and passion. South Africa as a whole is still experiencing some of the lingering effects of Apartheid just as we have seen in America following the outlawing of slavery. The average daily pay in Kurland hovers around ZAR 225 or $12.50. When speaking to local government and to leaders in the community there is a clear desire to better Kurland and create a more sustainable economy with the township. The majority of homes are build from brick, concrete block or wood, ranging in size from 8’x8’ to 20’x20’. Small corner container stores with assortments of produce and goods scattered throughout.

Despite the challenges Kurland faces, this community’s resilience is unmatched.  “Kurland Village is one of the most magical places on earth,” says our founder, Sam Fuller.  The amount of love and work ethic that lives and breathes in this village, and the member’s willingness to lend a helping hand to a family in need is remarkable. An area rich with culture and filled with heart.

Our program takes on various projects throughout the year depending on the needs of the village.  We focus on a few specific areas including education, youth development, community upliftment, infrastructure, and self-growth.  The most important part of our program is making sure our time and efforts are focused on projects that have the largest impact on the Kurland community. We work in partnership with local government and Non-Profit Organizations to highlight, plan, procure materials, and oversee the steps of each project.  We also take part in community engagement activities, such as helping during weekend village events, after school programs, feeding programs, and offering educational support.  Our program collects donations year-round and donates supplies to the local schools and our new Learning Center. We volunteer our labor efforts toward community projects to refurbish buildings, homes, playgrounds and other public facilities. From cleaning walls in the classrooms, to carpentry, masonry, gardening, read aloud, and homework help - our program is designed to give volunteers the opportunity to truly experience Kurland.