As human rights advocates prepare to take part in this year’s social justice walk in Stellenbosch on Tuesday, June 16, one participant will once again be walking for more than remembrance.
The #Action4Inclusion Social Justice Walk is an annual crowdfunding and advocacy hike led by Stellenbosch University’s Centre for Social Justice and partner organisations, aimed at raising funds to clear student debt and enable financially struggling students to register or graduate.
Ida’s Valley community activist and entrepreneur Eon Hendrikse regularly takes part in the annual event, which he says reflects many of the issues that have shaped his work over the past several years, including youth development, community healing, and creating opportunities in often overlooked spaces.
As South Africa observes Youth Month, Hendrickse is one of the young people making a difference in their communities.
Born and raised in Ida’s Valley, the 31-year-old said he grew up in a close-knit family where support and resilience formed part of daily life. He attended AF Louw Primary School before matriculating from Paul Roos Gymnasium in 2012.
“At the time, very few children from Ida’s Valley had the opportunity to attend a school like Paul Roos. I understood from a young age how important that opportunity was. It exposed me to different people, perspectives, and experiences beyond my community and inspired me to think bigger about what was possible,” he said.
From Grade 8, Hendrikse travelled daily between Ida’s Valley and school by bicycle. Though that began as a practical means of transport, it gradually became a source of discipline and reflection as he navigated different parts of Stellenbosch each day, he said.
After school, Hendrikse enrolled at Stellenbosch University to study law. However, during his final year, the Covid-19 pandemic placed financial pressure on his family, forcing him to leave his studies in 2020 to help support his parents.
“Although it was one of the most difficult decisions of my life, it taught me resilience, responsibility and sacrifice. It also became a turning point that pushed me to think differently. Together with my brother, I co-founded Hendrikse Deliveries, an eco-friendly e-cargo bike delivery service,” he said.
Hendrikse said the business idea began during lockdown, when they voluntarily assisted elderly residents with medication and other essential deliveries by bicycle, before evolving into a business model that was officially launched in 2023.
At the same time, Hendrikse became increasingly involved in social activism and youth development initiatives.
In July 2020, he co-founded the Ida’s Valley Community Trails Organisation, an eco-tourism and trail project focused on environmental awareness, youth empowerment and social cohesion.
The organisation regularly hosts guided hikes, educational programmes to encourage dialogue around local history, equality and belonging.
Youth development remains central to much of his work. Through the “Bums on Bikes” programme, around 40 children are introduced to cycling while learning discipline, teamwork and healthy lifestyle habits.
He also established the Ida’s Valley After School Programme, which supports between 20 and 30 children several afternoons a week. That started in his backyard but has grown into a community-supported initiative operating from Ida’s Valley sports field with assistance from volunteers.
The programme coordinator and second-year Stellenbosch University student, Liza-Louise Els, said she first met Hendrikse in August last year at a dinner event she attended with other student union members.
“Not long after the dinner, Eon posted on his social media that he was in desperate need of volunteers to help him with the kids who come to his home every afternoon to do their homework. I packed a car full of volunteers and we showed up. After one session, we realized this was something special,” she said.
The programme focuses on educational support, mentorship, nutrition and digital learning opportunities while creating a safe environment for children during after-school hours.
Another volunteer in the after-school programme, Amanda Fischer, said: “Sessions are now held at the Ida’s Valley sports club and they are becoming more structured and better and better. This is just one of the examples of the positive impact that he has.”
Over the years, Hendrikse’s work has received recognition both locally and internationally. The Ida’s Valley Community Trails Organisation was recognised through the World Economic Forum’s UpLink BiodiverCities Programme as a top innovator in sustainability, biodiversity and community development.
In 2020, he was also recognised by Stellenbosch University’s Centre for Social Justice as a Social Justice Champion for his community-building initiatives.
More recently, he co-founded Valley Venture alongside Quintin Smith in 2024, offering eco-friendly bicycle tours and cultural experiences in Ida’s Valley and surrounding areas.
Find Bolander on TikTok and Instagram @ccmonlineza