The Valley Trust (TVT) is a non-profit organisation established in 1953 and situated in the Valley of 1,000 Hills, Durban. The vision of the organisation is that the rural communities of the Valley of 1,000 Hills live full and vibrant lives in a democratic South Africa.

The approach of the organisation is to use health and other means to activate (stimulate) and promote ‘agency’ among the communities we work with. We define agency as the capacity of communities or community members to make their own choices, to do things for themselves and determine the course of their lives. The focus is on communities of the Valley that are under tribal authorities, underserved in regard to public services and generally have low household incomes. These communities are also typified by high levels of HIV and AIDS and other diseases, high unemployment, many teenage and young mothers and generally inadequate access to services and opportunities that support productive livelihoods.

To use health and other means to improve the lives of the communities of the Valley of 1,000 Hills.

The following are our key focus areas or strategic objectives:

1. Improving community members’ knowledge of health and healthy practices;
2. Facilitating access to resources that promote healthy and productive living;
3. Strengthening the resilience of households;
4. Stimulating the participation of community members in the local and broader economies; and
5. Ensuring the sustainability of TVT into the future.