10+
Years serving
2
Courses yearly
5
Trade skills
Knysna · Since 2014

Building lives, not just skills.

Hope HQ equips young people from disadvantaged communities with trade skills, business knowledge, and the confidence to build a brighter future.

Support a Student Discover Our Story
Students learning carpentry & machining · Hands & Heart Workshop, Knysna
Section 18(A) Tax Deductible
Community-Centred NPO
Holistic Skills Training
Knysna, Western Cape
Our Story

Tucked away in Knysna.
Changing lives.

Since 2014, Hope HQ has been transforming lives in Knysna's industrial heart. What began as a humble woodworking programme has grown into a comprehensive 6-month skills development centre serving young men and women from disadvantaged communities.

Today, students graduate with hands-on expertise in electrical work, plumbing, carpentry, and tiling — alongside business literacy, computer skills, and the confidence to launch their own ventures or enter the formal economy.

We believe true empowerment goes beyond the trade. We invest in the whole person — their identity, their faith, and their future.

Make a Difference Today
"HopeHQ is more than just a skills centre. It is a place where lives are rebuilt, confidence is restored, and hope is renewed."
— Jean Botes, Director
What We Teach

Two 6-month courses.
A lifetime of opportunity.

Three courses, two intakes each per year — small enough to be personal, practical enough to change a life. Every course includes life skills, business literacy, and the confidence to step into the workforce.

🔨

Handyman Course

6 Months 30 Students 2× per Year

Our flagship course covering a broad range of practical trade skills — from basic electrical and plumbing to carpentry, tiling, and general maintenance. Graduates leave equipped to find employment or start their own handyman business.

Business literacy and computer skills are woven throughout, giving students the full toolkit to thrive in the workplace.

🧵

Introduction to Sewing

6 Months Max 10 Students 2× per Year

A foundational sewing course taught in small, focused groups. Students learn core machine and hand-sewing techniques, garment construction, and fabric knowledge — building a skill with real income potential.

✂️

Advanced Sewing

6 Months Max 8 Students 2× per Year

For students ready to go further. This intimate course develops advanced garment-making, pattern work, and finishing skills — opening doors to professional dressmaking, alterations, and small-scale fashion enterprise.

10+
Years of impact
96
Students per year
2
Intakes per course
6
Months per course
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The People Behind It

Meet the team.

JB

Jean Botes

Director

AN

Akhona Ngxingo

Admin Training & Development, HR & Finance

ES

Erik Schwartin

Principal

MM

Mike Mitchley

Senior Facilitator – Workplace Prep, Math & IT

JB

Jonathan Buys

Facilitator

SV

Simon Venter

Technical Training Co-ordinator

Find Us

Get in touch.

Address 13 Uil Street, Knysna, Western Cape
PO Box 3461, Knysna 6570
Phone +27 (0)44 382 7474
Email training@hopehq.org

Enabling youth. Equipping with skills. Empowering to walk in Kingdom Identity.

At Hands & Heart, our vision is to holistically empower and uplift young men and women from disadvantaged communities. Through hands-on training, life skills development, and entrepreneurial guidance, we equip our students to build a brighter future.

By fostering leadership, problem-solving, and personal growth, we're creating opportunities that extend beyond the classroom — shaping confident individuals ready to make a lasting impact.

"By fostering leadership and personal growth, we're creating opportunities that shape confident individuals ready to make a lasting impact."