Our Story
who we are
At Friends of Alexandra (FOA), we believe in the power of personal stories to spark lasting change.
We are a South African-based, internationally supported NGO that uplifts the community of Alexandra — one of Johannesburg’s most densely populated and under-resourced areas.
Founded in 2006, we began with a single mission: to help a little girl named Mandisa, orphaned by HIV/AIDS, access quality education and build a better life. That small act of compassion became a ripple. Today, that ripple is a wave — and we continue to grow in reach, impact, and community transformation.
We don’t believe in handouts. We believe in long-term empowerment, education, skills training, and restoring dignity to a community often overlooked.
Our Mission
To empower the people of Alexandra through:
- Quality education and early childhood development
- Financial and mentorship support for small businesses
- Emergency relief in times of crisis
- Digital access through free WiFi in schools and community hubs
- Youth upliftment through sports and arts initiatives
Our Vision
A self-sustaining Alexandra, where every child has access to education, every adult has opportunity, and every community member feels safe, seen, and supported.
Our Values
- Human Dignity
- Education as a Right
- Sustainable Development
- Global-Local Collaboration
- Transparency & Integrity
Our founder’s message
“I never imagined that helping one little girl would lead to supporting an entire community — but I’ve come to learn that small seeds, when planted with love, grow forests of hope.”
— Robin Binckes, Founder of Friends of Alexandra
Our Timeline of Impact
2008
Early Childhood Development Centre opens at Nobuhle Hostel.
2009
Mandisa is enrolled in private school.
2010–2020
Support expands to university students, orphans, and special aid during riots and fires.
2021
20 small businesses launched in Alexandra and Soweto.
2023
WiFi installed in 17 schools + community hotspots through Project Isizwe.
Today
Over 1,000 children educated, 1,000+ incomes supported, and growing.
Our Gallery
Why We’re Different
Unlike many NGOs with high operational costs, Friends of Alexandra has no salaried executives and no fancy head offices. We channel every possible rand directly into the people and projects that need it most.
We’re proud to be a lean, impact-driven NGO with a strong donor base in both South Africa and the United States.
You can make a difference.
