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Great organisations never stop learning.

For non-profit organisations, making a lasting difference is about more than delivering programmes or raising funds. It also means investing in the people who lead those programmes, building strong partnerships, and finding better ways to serve the communities that rely on them.

That is why opportunities to connect with other leaders in the social impact sector are so valuable.

Recently, Peninsula School Feeding Association (PSFA) Director, Petrina Pakoe, attended the Allan Gray Philanthropy Initiative (AGPI) Grantee Directors Workshop in Cape Town. The two-day workshop brought together leaders from organisations across South Africa to share ideas, learn from one another, and explore ways to strengthen their impact.

Learning from others who share the same purpose

Every non-profit organisation has its own mission, but many face similar challenges.

Whether it is finding sustainable funding, supporting staff, responding to changing community needs, or planning for the future, there is always something to learn from people walking a similar path.

The AGPI Grantee Directors Workshop created exactly that kind of space. Held at Workshop 17 at the V&A Waterfront, the event welcomed leaders from 29 organisations working in areas such as nutrition, Early Childhood Development, child and family welfare, after-school education, sports development, and digital literacy. Although each organisation focuses on different communities, everyone came together with the same goal: creating meaningful, lasting change.

More than financial support

PSFA is grateful to be one of the organisations supported by Allan & Gill Gray Philanthropies through its Philanthropy Initiative with Employees of Allan Gray (RF) NPC.

What makes initiatives like this especially valuable is that they go beyond funding projects. They also invest in the people behind the work.

By creating opportunities for leaders to connect, share experiences, and learn from one another, the initiative helps strengthen organisations over the long term. When leaders grow, the organisations they lead become stronger too.

Conversations that make a difference

The workshop focused on topics that matter to organisations working in the social sector every day.

These included:

• Organisational leadership
• Good governance and stewardship
• Director wellbeing
• Building stronger peer networks
• Creating sustainable organisations

There was also plenty of opportunity for discussion.

Participants shared their own experiences, spoke openly about the challenges they face, and exchanged practical ideas that have worked within their organisations. Sometimes the most valuable lessons come from hearing how someone else approached a problem that feels familiar.

Those conversations often spark new ways of thinking that participants can take back to their own organisations.

Bringing fresh ideas back to PSFA

For PSFA, attending workshops like this is part of an ongoing commitment to learning and continuous improvement.

The organisation has been serving communities in the Western Cape since 1958, providing nutritious meals that help learners arrive at school ready to learn. While that mission remains unchanged, there is always room to strengthen how the organisation works, build new partnerships, and learn from others in the sector.

Reflecting on the experience, PSFA Director Petrina Pakoe said:

“We are deeply grateful to Allan & Gill Gray Philanthropies for creating opportunities such as this for its grantee partners. The workshop was an invaluable opportunity to connect with fellow leaders who are equally committed to creating positive change in their communities. It provided practical tools, fresh perspectives, and meaningful relationships that will help strengthen PSFA’s work and impact.”

It is a reminder that leadership is not only about guiding an organisation, but also about remaining open to learning and growing.

Why collaboration matters

No organisation can solve complex social challenges on its own. Supporting children, strengthening communities, and tackling issues such as hunger all require people and organisations working together.

That is why collaboration is so important. When leaders share knowledge instead of working in isolation, everyone benefits. New partnerships are formed, practical ideas are exchanged and organisations become better equipped to respond to the needs of the communities they serve.

For PSFA, collaboration has always been central to its work. The organisation works closely with schools, donors, volunteers, corporate partners and local communities to help ensure learners across the Western Cape receive nutritious meals during the school day.

Leadership workshops like this strengthen those connections even further.

Looking ahead

PSFA’s participation in the Allan Gray Philanthropy Initiative Grantee Directors Workshop reflects its commitment to learning, collaboration and responsible leadership.

Every new idea, every conversation and every relationship built through opportunities like this helps strengthen the organisation for the future.

Ultimately, that benefits the children and communities PSFA serves. When leaders continue to learn, organisations continue to improve. And when organisations become stronger, they are better equipped to create lasting impact where it matters most.

For PSFA, that means staying focused on its mission of reducing short-term hunger, supporting education and helping more learners across the Western Cape thrive, one nutritious meal at a time.

Visit our website: https://psfa.org.za/who-we-are/

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