Gansbaai Christian Academy (GCA)

White Shark Adventures has not only transformed the shark cage diving industry but is also having a very marked effect on community development in the Gansbaai area.  White Shark Adventures also supports and donates time, money and resources to the Gansbaai  Christian Academy (GCA) on a monthly basis.  

The GCA is involved in various initiatives including the Gansbaai Feeding Scheme, the Training Centre, and a number of other projects.

Gansbaai Feeding Scheme / Soup Kitchen

The original soup kitchen opened its doors in June 2008.  All the equipment, as well as the buildings, were financed from donations given by local businesses and the local community.  The kitchen and the store is approximately 32 square meters, and the workshop and toilets measures 60 square meters.

The aim of the kitchen is to supply a nourishing meal to the needy community of Gansbaai.  This includes the areas of Masakhane, Blompark, Beverly Hills and Gansbaai, the main priority of the kitchen being the children and, thereafter, the elderly and the sick.

From March 2009, the Department of Social Development assisted with the funding of the kitchen, however, the GCA was advised by the Department that they would not receive any funding as of 1st April 2012.

Training Center

Pastor Frikkie was instrumental in setting up a workshop that he filled with various woodworking tools.  The object of the woodworking training centre was to empower the unskilled people of Gansbaai.  Practical woodworking classes are offered to unemployed people from the areas fed by the GCA.

There are also facilities for Arts and Crafts classes, and the possibility of introducing Pottery, Needlework and Computer classes.

Other Projects

Since 1998, an annual Christmas party is held for approximately 500 children from all areas of Gansbaai.  Besides getting a meal, ice cream and cake, the children have fun on water slides, jumping castles and various other treats.  Each child also receives a packet of sweets, toys, and lots of other surprises.

Another annual event is the handing out of school uniforms to children attending school for the first time.  In 2012, approximately 75 children received uniforms to the value of R25,000.

A safe house has been built in the community of Beverly Hills.  This was financed by donations from the Overstrand Municipality, White Shark Adventures, GCA, and the general public of Gansbaai.  The GCA provides daily meals for those people using the safe house (Monday – Friday).

“Cool Kids” is a crèche/early childhood development centre for children from the local communities.

Straying dogs from Beverly Hills are also being fed on a regular basis by the GCA.