Community rooted
Programmes respond to local realities across informal settlements, farming communities and rural villages.
About Grassroots
Our Story
It all started with a bus outing. Since then, a million children have enjoyed our weekly Adventure Bus outing.
Where it began
From One Bus Outing to Lasting Impact
It all started with that first bus outing we organised, 50 years ago, when we rallied bus drivers, the Cape Town bus company and members of the community. On that warm Christmas Day, a few hundred children from Cape Town’s Gugulethu township experienced a fun day at the beach for the first time in their lives!
Since then, a million children have enjoyed our weekly Adventure Bus outing. The Adventure Bus now forms part of the programmes we run to impact the lives of children and the adults that work with them.
Explore the programmes →
How Grassroots works
Adults Empowered. Children Supported.
Grassroots works with the people closest to children, combining training with practical, long-term community support.
Practical support
Training is matched with mentoring, resources, governance guidance and help navigating registration.
Built to last
The focus is on stronger people, safer centres and more sustainable early learning environments.
Meet the Grassrooters
Leadership with Heart
Director & CEO
Mareldia Tape
Mareldia first joined Grassroots in 1992 as the national programme administrator. She was appointed as organisational co-ordinator by the Board of Trustees in 2005 and as director a year later. Mareldia is the face of Grassroots, for close to twenty years. She is gregarious and compassionate and she always has an ear for anyone who needs her time.
“Her success is due to her ability to balance the needs and concerns of the many stakeholders and actors that Grassroots engages with.”— Chairperson of Grassroots