Grow Strong is a Christian-based Skills and Mentorship Programme run by Marc and Brigit Oudejans, who have a passion for equipping teenagers with new skills, offering them tangible hope, and creating an environment in which they feel nurtured, are able to heal, and can learn to thrive.

Grow Strong provides a nurturing environment designed mainly for students from underprivileged communities who may not thrive in conventional academic settings and do not have the means to attend a School of Skills.

Through our vocational curriculum, Grow Strong empowers young people to navigate the professional world and face the challenges of adult life. The programme not only teaches practical skills but also helps students develop resilience, self-worth, and confidence. In addition to academic and vocational training, Grow Strong places a strong emphasis on sport, cultural activities, and community service projects. These endeavours foster a spirit of social responsibility and encourage students to contribute positively to their communities despite the economic hardships they face.

Grow Strong also offers students opportunities to gain hands-on experience through internships and workshops facilitated by industry professionals. We host regular markets where students can showcase and sell goods made during their skills-training sessions. This gives them valuable exposure to entrepreneurship and allows them to experience the satisfaction of tangible achievements.

Why are we needed in Grabouw?

Grabouw has a high number of undereducated, out-of-school young people. Many have experienced abuse, live in poverty, and face joblessness, gang involvement, or petty crime as seemingly their only options for the future.

Why does this programme work?

Our facilitators and volunteers work together to address the internal and external obstacles these boys face. By God’s grace, we help them rebuild their lives by giving them the skills, courage, and practical support they need to change the trajectory of their futures.

We have the support of the local community, the Department of Education, and amazing volunteers who are willing to serve, love, and grow together as a team.

Who are the students?

The programme is designed for teenagers between the ages of 16 and 19 who have been unable to complete their formal schooling.

Our students are boys who have chosen to change the trajectory of their futures. They have chosen not to sit at home or walk the streets, but to equip themselves for a future filled with possibilities.