About Artisan Training Foundation

About ATF

The Artisan Training Foundation (ATF) was born out of the Artisan Training Institute’s (ATI) highly successful donor-funded programme which has worked in partnership with funding organizations, both national and international over the past ten years. ATI is the technical skills training provider in the Gauteng – Regional Centre of Expertise, officially recognized by the United Nations University. It has trained over 22 000 artisans in its history at its three training centres (Roodepoort, Kimberley, Port Shepstone). The Donor Funded Programme, now under the auspices of the Artisan Training Foundation (ATF), has trained more than 1600 Donor-funded learners. The donor-funded programmes have seen partnerships with funders such as the Mastercard Foundation, Harambee Youth Accelerator, TISO Foundation, Standard Bank Tutuwa Community Foundation, Aveng, Bell Equipment and many more.

ATF is a specialized non-profit and public benefit organisation that channels funds to the training of youth for quality vocational occupations. The Foundation is able to provide Section 18 Certificates, when required, to funders for funds donated. We believe young people can win, not just survive.

ATF is a Public Benefit Organisation PBO 930067446. ATF is a BBBEE Level 1 – 135% procurement contributor.

What We Do?

Building futures is achievable only with completely new ways of thinking and relentless, resolute approaches to doing. It begins with putting money where it should be and ends with helping young people make their world – and the world – better. ATF is forging a broad network of relationships in order to secure increased funding for quality vocational training for those trades where there is actual industry demand. Young people can win, not just survive. We connect the youth with gainful opportunities based on matching quality training with real-world needs, and giving them the skills that they need to build winning futures. We do this innovatively, transparently, cost-effectively, and sustainably...

What we Believe

The Foundation propels sustainable livelihoods for the youth. Donors, partners, affiliates, staff, stakeholders and beneficiaries trust that the Foundation will relentlessly work, alongside young people, to help them to rise out of poverty and inequality...

Our Values

Impact

Effect powerful changes

Sustainable youth livelihoods affect every element of socio-economic life, everywhere. We need to act resolutely, in ways both big and small, to drive young people to make their world, and the world, better.

Contribution

Doing good in action

Ours is a commitment to active care and compassion for those in need; to making real contributions in ways that uplift young people tangibly and improve their lives significantly.

Legacy

Not for today, for tomorrow

A threat to any worthwhile cause is insular, narrow thinking. No plan can work without the future tense. That’s why we think about tomorrow, today. Every action we take is about sustainability and endurance, and rooted in trust and partnership.

Relentlessness

Never, ever hold back

We are steadfast in our resolve to help young people to rise out of poverty and inequality, into a world of unlimited potential. We cannot wait. We must have impact, now.

Diligence

All boxes ticked, Always

Fund-raising, to be done right, carried out transparently, cost-effectively, and sustainably. Part of this is attentiveness; another part is innovation. Neither time nor resources can be wasted, for this will cost another generation.

Leadership Team

Mandisa Sowazi

CEO

Mandisa acquired her Cambridge O’ Level certificate from St Theresa’s Girls High School in Manzini Swaziland, where after she studied in the United States at Midway College in Kentucky. There she completed an Associate’s Degree in Education and Psychology.
She went on to complete her BA Ed Degree at Carthage College in Milwaukee, USA.
After teaching for several years in Swaziland, she moved to Johannesburg where she worked in the Medical Aid sector at Fedsure Health as the Marketing Coordinator and later for PSG Health as the Programs Manager. She then joined HLGC (Home Loan Guarantee Company) where she managed the Direct Aids Intervention Program.

In 2007, she got into partnership with Sean Jones, and they bought and developed the Artisan Training Institute (ATI) where she remains the majority shareholder and operates as the Executive Director.

Richard Lewis

Founder

Richard’s passing has not deterred from his groundbreaking footprint in ATF. Richard was retained by the Artisan Training Institute (ATI) since 2008 heading up Strategy and growing donor-funding. After majoring in Comparative African Government and Administration, he initially trained towards becoming an advocate. However, after having completed his legal studies in South Africa, Richard went on to lecture in Germany and study further in Business Administration and Jurisprudence. He later returned and specialised in labour law for over 20 years. He served as chairman and non-executive director of several companies (including a listed Company), and provided leadership and consulted to some of South Africa’s leading social development NGOs.
Richard served for over fourteen years and was, until September 2016, Chairperson of the Board of WESSA (the Wildlife and Environment Society of SA), one of the oldest and largest membership based environmental organizations of its kind on the African continent. He was a Patron of NACSSA – National Association of Conservancies and Stewardships of South Africa. Richard was an Enviropaedia Eco Logic Award finalist 2017.