SOS Africa Acquires Dennekraal Recreation Centre for New Skills Academy

Photo Credit: Supplied - Matt Crowcombe and Lorraine Emery receive the plans from Estate Agent Andre Swart

Thanks to an extraordinary act of generosity from their sponsors, SOS Africa has secured the Dennekraal Recreation Centre – an expansive property set to become SOS Africa’s very first Skills and Training Academy.

Sir Lowry’s Pass Village, South Africa (23 October 2025) – In an exciting win for youth empowerment, SOS Africa has purchased The Dennekraal Recreation Centre thanks to the extraordinary act of generosity by their sponsors.

Once fully renovated, this facility will host SOS Africa’s very first “Skills and Training Academy” in partnership with The Village Collaboration – marking the organisation’s most significant milestone to date.

Situated on the outskirts of Sir Lowry’s Pass Village Community, the Dennekraal Recreation Centre is a 7.7-acre property which offers an ideal setting, boasting existing facilities like a conference centre, offices, classrooms, accommodation, a swimming pool, a rugby pitch, outdoor teaching spaces and an amphitheatre.

SOS Africa Founder and CEO, Dr Matt Crowcombe, who was introduced to the site by Village Collaboration Founder Lorraine Emery, immediately recognised its “groundbreaking” potential for long-term community impact.

“When we first viewed the property, Lorraine and I were blown away by its potential. We immediately visualised the many skills and training programmes which could be hosted by its vast array of pre-existing buildings and gardens; the long-term impact of these programmes on the local communities would be groundbreaking. At the time, we tried to suppress our excitement as the purchase of such a unique property would require the largest donation in the charity’s history,” shares Dr Crowcombe.

The SOS Africa and Village Collaboration staff celebrating the official signing of the Offer to Purchase

Sponsors John and Hazel Barnett, who made the purchase possible, expressed their privilege in helping to establish what they see as a vital centre to educate, inspire and empower the local community.

“When we heard from Matt that he and Lorraine had viewed an incredible property that would be the dream location for SOS Africa and The Village Collaboration to establish a training and education centre, we felt privileged to be able to help turn that dream into a reality,” says John and Hazel Barnett, SOS Africa Sponsors.

This remarkable development has sent a ripple of excitement throughout both charities and the surrounding communities, representing a beacon of hope for the staggeringly high numbers of unemployed youth throughout the region.

Lorraine Emery, The Village Collaboration CEO and Founder, added that securing the property was a dream come true that will dramatically enhance the capability to rewrite the narrative of unemployment and poverty in the Sir Lowry’s Pass village and the greater Helderberg region.

Matt and Lorraine now look forward to the pending renovations, in the hope that The SOS Africa Skills and Training Academy will open its doors to serve the local community of Sir Lowry’s Pass Village and beyond as soon as April 2026.