Andra Phillips
Founder of The Bridge Builder Project
“At my core, I guess I am a dreamer. I have a deep-seated dream of a future that is different to the past and the present, where people are able to make deep connections with one another across difference. But I am also a pragmatist. Our increasingly polarised world tells me that this won’t happen on its own. We need to consciously work towards realising the dream. This is the heart of The Bridge Builder Project.”
Sabine Walker
Managing Director of Halls Properties in Mbombela
The power of communication lies in our ability to foster a genuine human connection that starts with authentic conversations. The Bridge Builder Project provides a framework for children to interact with curiosity, explore their differences and contemplate a world in which their uniqueness is celebrated. It fosters understanding and crosses cultural divides, cultivating acceptance and tolerance that will spill over into every aspect of life. It isn’t a programme only for South Africa, it’s a programme for the world, and its impact is enormous! This programme teaches a skill that is essential today and for the future.
Page Chetty
HOD of Inclusion, Belonging and Policy, Rondebosch Boys’ Prep in Cape Town
"Schools today, regardless of wealth, are still shaped by historical and socio-economic factors that fuel inequality and division. By investing in relational approaches, we can build social capital—strengthening trust, collaboration, and mutual respect. It’s not just about avoiding crises; it’s about tackling these deep-rooted issues and fostering a culture of inclusion, understanding, and lasting growth for the whole school community."
Michael Curle
Principal of Maranatha School in Mkhondo
“I was introduced to Bridge Builders a few years ago while doing my research for my Masters thesis on Transformation for Reconciliation and I've been using the programme ever since. For me, programmes like this are not a 'nice-to-have'; bridge-building is a spiritual imperative.”
