The Cheetah Plains Foundation forms a part of Cheetah Plains, a luxury safari lodge, rooted in sustainable tourism in South Africa.
The objective of the Cheetah Plains Foundation is to apply its resources towards meaningful community upliftment and environmental responsibility, with a focus on creating long-term, sustainable impact. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Early childhood development and education
- Community upliftment and support for local families
- Job creation and skills development
- Female empowerment and micro-enterprise development
Established in 2024, the foundation formalises Cheetah Plains’ ongoing commitment to grassroots impact, supporting initiatives that nurture both individual potential and broader community resilience.
Current focus areas include:
- The Lezagwa Utah Community Crèche, which provides a safe, nurturing environment for early childhood development, supporting over 85 children and preparing them for future education
- The Beanie Project, a social enterprise empowering local women to build sustainable income streams through handcrafted goods, fostering independence, creativity, and economic resilience
Together, these initiatives reflect a holistic approach to development, supporting both education and entrepreneurship, and creating meaningful opportunities across generations.
Empowers Africa has partnered with Cheetah Plains Foundation in order to provide a cost-effective solution to fundraising in the United States by acting as their fiscal sponsor. Any donations made here will be granted to Cheetah Plains Foundation.
Empowers Africa uses Stripe to process credit card donations. Stripe has very stringent security rules which may lead to declined credit card transactions. If you are experiencing trouble processing your donation, kindly contact Nadia Derelieva at (917) 328-1611 or via email: nadia@empowersafrica.org
Cheetah Plains Foundation Campaigns
Lezagwa Utah Community Crèche
The Lezagwa Utah Community Crèche is a local creche centered around early childhood development, supporting children from six months to five years old within the surrounding community. Providing a safe, nurturing, and stimulating environment, the crèche plays a critical role in shaping cognitive, emotional, and social development during the most formative years.
With the support of the Cheetah Plains Foundation, the creche has expanded its schooling projects and are looking to follow further initiatives such as a vegetable garden, new fencing and ongoing stationery needs.
The Beanie Project
The Beanie Project is a small collective designed to empower local women through skills development and sustainable income creation. What began with a small investment in knitting machines has grown into a network of micro-businesses, where each participant produces handcrafted beanies as a source of income and independence. Supported by the Cheetah Plains Foundation, the project not only fosters entrepreneurship and economic resilience but also creates a meaningful connection between guests and community through the option to purchase and donate beanies to children in need.
General Donations
If you do not have any specific project in mind and wish the organization to use their own discretion.
Donations can also be made by check or wire transfer:
Checks should be made out to “Empowers Africa” and should be mailed to:
Empowers Africa
2 Beekman Place, Ste. 18B
New York, NY 10022
www.empowersafrica.org
(917) 328-1611
Kindly note in the memo section of the check that funds are for Cheetah Plains Foundation. Or email us at info@empowersafrica.org.
For wire transfer details or more information, please email us at info@empowersafrica.org.
Empowers Africa has been approved as a U.S. public charity, contributions to which are tax deductible for U.S. federal income tax purposes under Section 501(c)(3) [EIN: 32-0403737] of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code.
Thank you for your support!