About
GEM is a movement for citizen engagement & positive societal change.
- Our aim is to mobilize Mzansi towards social-economic well-being and to foster greater collaboration amongst all walks of life.
- We seek to accomplish this by initiating (and complimenting) dialogue on South Africa's most pressing issues.
GEM - Going the Extra Mile has been co-ordinating community engagement events & mass mobilizations since 2014.
Our organisation operates within JHB & CPT (with a mostly nationwide reach and network).
Over the past 6 years, we've hosted over 3,000 community events, with more than 50,000 participants, together accomplishing a whopping 200,000 hours of community service.
Together with our partners (over 40 grass-root NGO's and strong institutional partners), GEM has facilitated the following activities and events:
- Student Tutoring & Mentorship
- Community Gardens
- Soup Kitchens
- Community Cleanups
- Tree-Planting
- Beach & River Cleanups,
- Orphanage Assistance & Aftercare,
- Animal Welfare
Not to mention an especially successful heritage site cleanup in Alex, JHB - The Kings Cinema (2019).
Going the Extra Mile is a South African Non-Profit Company with Section 18A/PBO status.
All donations made to GEM Project are tax-deductible.

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Media
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The South African
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11/05/2020
SAve a Business SA – a transparent and fast turnaround financial relief initiative for small businesses. -
Between10and5
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08/05/2020
Designer, Laduma Ngxokolo alongside artist, Nelson Makamo partner up to raise relief funds for local businesses. -
BONA
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04/05/2020
Laduma Ngxokolo & Nelson Makamo donate their first-ever collab tapestry piece. The duo donated the piece to SAve A Business. -
New Frame
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12/08/2019
Like most of South Africa’s township film theatres, the Kings Cinema died shortly after democracy was born. Now, the grand dame of Alex big screen is back. -
Good Things Guy
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23/05/2019
Johannesburg, South Africa – A group of volunteers rallied together to breathe life back into an old rundown theatre in the heart of Alexandra. -
Good Things Guy
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21/01/2018
GEM may be a small organisation, but it’s having a huge impact on the world around it! Take a look back at a few of the organisation’s achievements last year. -
Brand South Africa
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19/01/2018
For the Going The Extra Mile project, 2017 was a year of milestones and great successes, with volunteers from around the country banding together to make a difference in their communities. -
LeadSA
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01/11/2017
South Africa has a wealth of changemakers and entrepreneurs who work daily to create a difference in South Africa. -
Destiny Man
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03/10/2017
Entrepreneurs Camilo Ramada and David Shields are cultivating a culture of social change through their mobile platform GEM, which rewards South Africans for good deeds. -
MICROSOFT
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15/08/2017
“The revolution will be tweeted”. This phrase became popular during the Arab Spring, when social media played a significant role in the organisation of protests that rocked the Middle East and Africa. -
In On Africa
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20/07/2017
In On Africa (IOA) is currently working to expedite and encourage positive changes in South Africa’s youth sector by focusing on youth unemployment with several companies, organisations and individuals. -
Compare Guru
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16/07/2017
With Mandela Day just around the corner, people around the country are emphasizing the importance of performing good deeds. -
Good Things Guy
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07/07/2017
On 14th September 2014, a small non-profit organisation was formally registered. At the time, this baby organisation had nothing to give but HOPE and an action plan. -
Brand South Africa
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01/02/2017
GEM may be a small organisation, but it’s having a huge impact on the world around it! -
5fm
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25/04/2017
Youngblood 5, 25 Apr (YOUNGBLOOD)5 - GEM PROJECT (25 APRIL) -
Our Friends
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20/06/2016
There are some really cool social impact projects out there! Up on my radar is one called the GEM Project (Going the Extra Mile). -
IMPACT BEACON
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04/05/2016
David Shields is the co-founder of GEM Project, an organization based in South Africa that uses a mobile payments platform to reward volunteer service in local communities. -
Site Point
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06/01/2016
The thought of an adult living without a bank account or computer may seem like an archaic notion for those of us in the developed world. -
Wits Vuvuzela
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23/04/2016
A new South African rewards programme is one of the first to offer incentives for community service. -
HTXT.Africa
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06/02/2015
Earning money and doing good may seem like an impossible dream for anyone not employed at an NGO, but it doesn’t stop most of us wishing there was a way to do both. -
SMILE & MOBILE
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23/02/2015
What if you could earn money and help society at the same time would you do it? Of course you would! Well the GEM project is a mobile rewards platform that is trying to achieve just that. -
G.I.C AWARDS
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03/04/2014
A government driven innovation in Pakistan, digital currency in South Africa and SMS reporting system for maternal health in Indonesia took the top three prizes at Making All Voices Count's -
City Buzz
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19/06/2015
JOHANNESBURG – An ex-pupil of Bryanston High School is making waves within the community thanks to his mobile rewards platform for volunteers.