The Cambridge Collective

The Dandelion Philosophy combines charity work with science, business strategy and innovation to help solve problems such as  hunger, poverty and unemployment, focusing on helping people of colour around the world. We have a team of over 400 volunteers from 41 countries working on projects that help us achieve 16 of the 17 United Nations' SDGs for a better world.

We work to heal the wounds left by the system of apartheid and improve lives through education, better health care, and jobs. Our main objective is to teach communities to help themselves by providing food, education, support for mental health, and innovative ways to make money that also help the planet. 

Our formula for change is “If we create a consistency in food security, healing, education, and connection, combine this with intention, innovation, and imagination, multiply it by dedicated efforts, opportunity and agency, we can create infinite possibility.”

Our model is designed to tackle food insecurity as a first intervention, and then to introduce training, regenerative agriculture, mental health support, and entrepreneurship opportunities to transform communities in the longer-term. 

Our model works in five simple steps:

• STEP 1. Food Relief: We use kitchen pods and bakeries to serve hot, nutritious meals and bread to those in need, while our buy-one-give-one model offers baking jobs and fights malnutrition.
• STEP 2. Skills Training: In partnership with nonprofits, we provide a range of certified training programs from welding to farming, agriculture, cooking, and more.
• STEP 3. Sustainable Farming: Our Umzi Initiative™ promotes regenerative agriculture, teaching community members to grow their own food, enhancing food security and economic growth.
• STEP 4. Psychosocial Support: Our Circles™ program offers Afrocentric approaches to healing, addressing trauma and fostering community dialogue and recovery.
• STEP 5. Economic Development: We reinvest 20% of our future profits into the community, aiming for a self-sustaining model that supports entrepreneurship and local economic growth.

This year, we're focussing on two projects in Cambridge Village, in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. Implementing our model to help a community of 10,000 heal emotionally, grow their own food, start local businesses, and get better at dealing with life's challenges. 

We’re raising critical funding to purchase a permaculture farm which will become our first “Healing Hub” - this space will provide food security, psychosocial support, training and entrepreneurship opportunities, as well as the home of a Women’s Forum dedicated to uplifting the community. Produce from the farm will help us create income so we can create jobs for members of the community of Cambridge Village. 

Through these projects, we are creating jobs and making sure our projects can sustain themselves without always needing more donations.

Over five years, we're moving from reliance on donations to being able to stand on our own, with innovative ideas and support for new businesses. We are inspired to make a real difference in the world by focusing on long-term success, and making sure everyone has a chance to improve their lives.

We invite you to be part of the change. We accept donations by card, cryptocurrency, stocks, and Donor Advised Funds (DAF) on our website. We are registered in South Africa, the United states (501c3),  and the United Kingdom.

"Since working with The Dandelion Philosophy, the community of Cambridge has changed. After decades of fatigue, hopelessness and “paralysis” from apartheid, people are greeting each other again, neighbours are talking to each other, smiles have returned. We are excited about the work The Dandelion Philosophy will do in the community of Cambridge Village, but the impact you have already had on so many lives in such a short period is commendable. Thank you for inspiring hope!". - Cambridge Village Community

THIS IS NOT CHARITY. THIS IS CHANGE.