Kwikspace has delivered a dedicated modular training facility for the Design26 Foundation in Mitchells Plain, significantly upgrading how the organisation delivers skills development to local women. Officially opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on 23 February, the new hub replaces a cramped home setup with a professional, dignified environment designed for community upliftment.
Outgrowing the living room
Before the installation of this unit, Design26 Foundation founder Suraya Williams ran her empowerment programmes from a small section of her house. In Mitchells Plain, marginalised women face a severe shortage of safe, structured facilities where they can gather for mentorship. The foundation urgently required an exclusive setting to properly support NEET (Not in Employment, Education, or Training) women with practical skills and entrepreneurial knowledge.
A multiplier effect for the community
The new Kwikspace unit serves as a multi-functional training centre. It comfortably accommodates five to ten women per training day for vocational courses, small business development, and life skills workshops. The long-term impact of this facility extends far beyond the classroom walls. By encouraging financial independence and job creation, the foundation triggers a multiplier effect: empowering one woman translates to directly supporting and feeding up to five dependents in her household.
A self-funded vision meets modular efficiency
Driven by entrepreneurial resilience, the project was entirely self-funded. Williams financed the facility using profits from her commercial entity, Design26 (Pty) Ltd, alongside a portion of her personal prize money. To turn this investment into a reality quickly, the foundation employed Kwikspace’s modular technology. Rather than enduring the delays and site disruptions of traditional construction, Kwikspace supplied a high-quality, prefabricated building that immediately established a permanent professional presence for the NGO.
Building pathways to independence
The February ribbon-cutting ceremony welcomed the first intake of learners into a space they can truly call their own. For Kwikspace, the project highlights the role of agile infrastructure in driving social change.
“We are incredibly proud to partner with visionary leaders like Suraya,” says Lance Koen at Kwikspace. “Providing a secure, high-quality space where women can build their businesses and their confidence aligns perfectly with our commitment to uplifting communities through practical infrastructure. This facility proves how quickly modular solutions can turn a grassroots vision into a working reality.”
As a Level 1 B-BBEE contributor, Kwikspace remains dedicated to supporting South Africa’s social development landscape with adaptable, durable, and rapidly deployed facilities that empower local communities.
