Our Foundation
Journey’s End Foundation
In August 2020 to bring together all of its existing and ongoing community projects, Journey's End set up the NGO, Journey's End Foundation.
Rollo Gabb, MD, and his team established the Foundation and launched a meal programme at the same time, to tackle hunger and extreme poverty in the Helderberg Region of Stellenbosch through a network of soup kitchens – largely as a result of the pandemic.
The goal was to provide 10,000 meals a week, and 520,000 within its first year. By September 2021, the Foundation reached the milestone of providing 1 million meals since its launch, almost doubling the initial target set out in 2020. Today, Journey's End Foundation continues to provide over 30,000 meals a week and to date (May 2023) has provided over 3.5 million meals, with help from a group of inspiring women who run the soup kitchens; Joyce, Mila, Mienke, Veronica, Elise, and Rachel.
For its work, Journey's End has been recognised by The Drinks Business Green Awards in 2020 and 2021, receiving the Ethical Company award. It also received the Water Management award in 2021.
Rollo Gabb says, “The South African economy was very badly affected by Covid 19, with the Western Cape in particular hit by zero tourism and close to zero hospitality. This coupled with its temporary ban on domestic wine sales severely impacted the wine industry, as did the 10pm curfew in the restaurant sector. It all led to a very significant increase in unemployment at the time, and with very little government support, many families were unable to bring any food to the table and starvation in the Cape was even more of a real risk. At the time it was reported that some 20,000 people in Stellenbosch alone were at risk of hunger.
“We moved fast and completed the set-up of the Journey’s End Foundation in August 2020, entirely funded by Journey’s End. Once up and running, we set out to provide 520,000 meals within its first year. We then increased support and reached the milestone of providing 1,000,000 meals by Septemeber 2021, almost doubling our initial target. As of July 2022, we have provided over 2,000,000 meals, with plans to continue to reach as many more people as possible.”
To take this a step further, select bottles in the Journey's End Brands portfolio now bear the '1 for 1' roundlet. For every bottle purchased bearign the sticker, Journey's End will further provide one meal for someone in need in our community. The QR code allows customers to see how they are helping to support the local community and links them to a short film.
For many years, Journey’s End has placed a big focus on supporting the local community, Sir Lowry’s Pass Village. As well as providing employment and training opportunities at the winery, the team works closely with community heads to channel resources into a number of development programmes which included the building of a new school hall at Sir Lowry's Pass Primary School and providing security day and night, promoting gender equality and backing a project to support the women and girls who are victims of gender-based-violence.
In setting up the Foundation, they have worked closely with Hettie Orffer, CEO and Developer of the ‘Beat the Bully’ programme – another programme funded by Journeys End, which focuses on eradicating bullying in the Cape townships through education and intervention.
For more details about The Journey’s End Foundation please email info@journeysend.co.za
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