Project Build Trust

General information

OUR HERITAGE
The Project Build Trust has been building educational buildings in KwaZulu-Natal for almost 40 years and has built over 5300 classrooms to date.
It has its roots in the Urban Foundation’s classroom building division, founded in 1977. When the trustees of the foundation believed it had served its purpose in 1994, the Natal School Project was formed as a separate trust, which became the Project Build Trust.
There is hardly a community in KwaZulu-Natal that has not been touched by our work, which also includes the building of community centres and other humanitarian buildings.
OUR MISSION
• To build educational buildings for the learners and educators of KwaZulu-Natal, as well as community facilities.
• To empower independent building contractors whilst creating employment opportunities and passing skills on to communities.
• To acknowledge donors for the role they play in empowering communities and creating a stable society.
NEED
Education in KwaZulu-Natal is a challenge on many levels. In KZN there is an estimated shortage of 14,500 classrooms. Many existing classrooms are overcrowded, badly ventilated and in poor condition. Many are inappropriate and do not have proper facilities for children at foundation level.
At PROJECTBUILD it is our contention that good education cannot happen without good education buildings including classrooms, toilet blocks, laboratories, libraries and computer rooms. We have records that show the provision of good educational buildings improves learners’ performance and results.
Given that we cannot have a successful society without a well-educated population, it is important that citizens share with Government the task of raising the standard of the educational environment.
MEETING THE TECHNICAL STANDARDS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Our technical specifications have the approval of the Works Department of the Provincial Government. As we build on Department of Education properties, we always seek and are granted their approval of our buildings, which we hand over to the department once complete.
We have an excellent relationship with the Department of Education, at every level from the SEMs to the office of the MEC
OUR TEAM
CEO, Suzanne Edmunds, has been associated with PROJECTBUILD for many years.
Operations Manager, Pradeep Boodoo, who leads a professional technical division, has travelled the length and breadth of this province in pursuit of our mission over the past 27 years.
Site supervisors, who all have a recognised tertiary education in the built environment, visit all sites regularly for quality control.
Our liaison department works closely with communities to ensure our goals are aligned with theirs and encouraging community participation and support for the building projects.
OUR MODEL
We manage the project from concept through inception to completion and handover.
Schools requiring buildings register their needs with us. They must provide proof of permission from the planning department of the Department of Education.
Each school becomes a partner in their own project by paying a deposit towards the build.
PROJECTBUILD through the donor community then sources the remaining funding.
Builders, who are independent SMMEs are contracted to each project. Members of the community where the project takes place can be employed for the duration of the project by the builders, thus passing skills and income on to the community. The builders, many of whom have worked with us for 25 years, are assisted by PROJECTBUILD in many ways to sustain their micro enterprises, such as training, cash advances and the purchase of tools.
PROJECTBUILD contracts labour only, including registered plumbers and qualified electricians, and is responsible for procuring all materials.
Where possible we buy material in the community where the project is being developed. We are also totally responsible for the quality of work and every other aspect of the build at each site.
The same model is used for community centres and humanitarian buildings.
COMMUNITY RESPONSIBILITY
Wherever possible we add value by working with other NGOs, for example, in the setting up of food gardens, orchards or permaculture projects and transferring skills to the community to ensure their sustainability.
We encourage volunteers to work on our sites, particularly from our corporate sponsors, who like their staff to be involved in their CSI spend. Volunteers also visit from across the globe helping to paint classrooms, build vegetable gardens, and interact with learners and educators, creating important relationships.
OUR INCOME
Our funding is solely from benefactors; corporate and private organizations such as your own. Among our sponsors are Investec Bank, Absa Bank, Grindrod Shipping, Lewis Group, Iqraa Trust, Daitz Foundation, D.G. Murray Trust, MIET, UEC, UNUSA/Hero programme, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Illovo Sugar, Safmarine and Sibaya Casino Trusts, to name a few.
We will be happy to provide you with a comprehensive list.
BENEFITS
Sponsors can take pride in the knowledge that they are helping us to fulfil our mission of improving the communities of South Africa through providing quality education and community facilities. Grant funding not only enhances BBBEE scores, but corporate reputations.

MANAGEMENT OF FUNDS
Each project is self-funding and we do not generate profits. A professional management practice manages our monthly accounts which are audited annually. We report to SARS and to the Department of Social Development in terms of the legislation.
Our audited financial statements are available for perusal.
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