About BTGSA
BtGSA is South African non-profit company (NPC) functioning within the
borders of South Africa with programmes in Canada, Australia and United States.
Founded on an ethical commitment to restore the dignity of young people, BTGSA was conceptualised in 2006 and officially launched in 2011 in the uThukela District of KwaZulu-Natal. Established in response to deep-rooted social and structural challenges facing youth, the organisation initially focused on psychosocial wellbeing, mental health support, entrepreneurship, and skills development. These foundational investments created measurable youth transformation outcomes, informing BTGSA’s evolution into an organisation that now blends service delivery, research, community innovation, and policy influence.
By 2016, BTGSA expanded its mandate to integrate research and rapid assessment methodologies, including focus group discussions, community dialogues, and mixed-method surveys. Early flagship research focused on the intersection of early/forced childhood marriage, poverty, gender-based violence, and femicide, generating data that informed advocacy, programme design, and local engagement strategies.
As a crisis-responsive organisation, BTGSA became an essential community partner during the COVID-19 pandemic and later in HIV/AIDS support aligned to the UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets. Its work integrated treatment adherence, mental health, and psychosocial care strategies, building on its commitment to holistic public health and human rights. Further programme expansions included interventions in homelessness, disability inclusion, harmful sexual behaviours, and sexual offence rehabilitation, anchored in community-led dialogue processes and dignity-focused approaches.
Mission Statements
Our Vision: A leading African model for grassroots transformation where youth, communities, and traditional, faith-based structures co-create systems of dignity, development, and shared prosperity.
Our Mission: To restore dignity and advance social and economic justice by strengthening youth leadership, conducting community-based research, and developing innovative land and public health models that transform rural and urban communities across South Africa and the region.
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Building on evidence, partnerships, and institutional learning, BTGSA is now positioning itself for expansion beyond municipal boundaries to district and provincial level within KwaZulu-Natal, and future engagement within SADC and African Union platforms. BTGSA aims to contribute to regional dialogues on youth development, land access, health equity, and structural poverty alleviation.
¨ To advance long-term systems change and youth economic justice, BTGSA proposes to expand the IZIGODI model to incorporate land-based development, economic empowerment, and community resilience through:
Youth-led land development and regenerative commercial agriculture.
Community-level land access strategies linked to livelihoods and food security
Local job councils and youth advisory boards for economic governance.
Capacity building in land management, agribusiness, and cooperative development.
Integrated monitoring, evaluation, and learning systems for evidence-based scaling.