Our mission
Our goal is to bring rock climbing to the vulnerable youth of Cape Town, building confidence, bridging social divides and forming connections with the natural world.
What we do
Indoor bouldering sessions
We organise multiple indoor coaching sessions a week for vulnerable youth from around Cape Town at climbing gyms across the city with our partners Bloc 11 and City Rock. As of 2021 we have 4 separate climbing teams of 5-10 individuals each climbing and training indoors between once and twice a week. We follow a training plan developed by professional coaches and our sessions are guided by experienced climbers.
Outdoor climbing days
We have regular outdoor days in the month, bouldering and sport climbing around the Cape Peninsula under the supervision of experienced climbing guides. In 2021 alone we ran 17 outdoor climbing day trips.
Introduction to climbing afternoons
We offer to local outreach social initiatives working with vulnerable youth an introduction to climbing as a recreational activity so that their kids can come discover what is the sport about, have fun and test themselves against the problems. These events are hosted at Bloc 11 on a weekend afternoon, they are designed for groups of 10-15 youth who will be guided by experienced climbing coaches and our most committed team members. If you are involved with such social initiatives and would like to explore the possibility to collaborate, kindly get in touch with us.
Weekend climbing trips
Multiple trips to some of South Africa’s premier climbing destinations are facilitated each year. We offer a full outdoor experience with camping, braais (barbecues), mountain exploration and of course lots of climbing.
Why climbing
Climbing exposes us to a range of emotions such as fear, frustration, pride, and joy; and to manage these emotions we need to learn self-control, balance, patience, and commitment. At Dream Higher, we believe that this journey leads to growth and emotional balance.
Our home of Cape Town, South Africa is one of the world’s premier rock climbing destinations, with an almost endless array of high-quality boulders, sport, and traditional climbing routes. Within a few hours’ drive lies the bouldering mecca of Rocklands, visited by the best climbers in the world every year.
The emotional benefits of climbing, the strong bonds within the climbing community, and exposure to the beauty of the natural world make this sport an ideal opportunity to build bridges across social divides, connect youth with their natural heritage and heal the damage inflicted by violence, substance abuse and poverty on the youth of Cape Town.
Our philosophy
We believe in the importance of offering long-term climbing opportunities, rather than a temporary experience, to the underserved youth who express the wish to do so. These participants favor consistent and reliable relationships with their mentors and the establishment of a safe space that they often lack in their lives.
This long-term attendance optimizes the development of an inspirational identity as a climber and the connection to a supportive social group. Feedback from our partner foster homes further confirms that the participants have shown a significant change in their behavior, being more helpful toward their peers, making more responsible decisions, and positive life choices since they have joined our program.