Rise Above Circumstance is a not-for-profit organization (NPO) established in 2005 as a response to the high levels of unemployment in Delft. The organization is dedicated to assisting women and youth become entrepreneurs and start their own businesses.

RAC founder, Franchesca Abrahams, along with a group of core members:

• Secured the use of the hall which adjoins Delft Public Library for meetings, workshops, and training.  These sessions were so successful that RAC is has outgrown this venue and is looking for a larger space.
• Became members of the SmartCape facility at the Delft Public Library, which gave them instant and free access to word processing packages, spreadsheets, Internet and email.
• Hosted monthly meetings/ workshops.  They invited keynote speakers to speak to the community on issues relating to small business advisory information and women's issues in general.
• Organised skills transferral workshops for women in Delft.  These workshops have been extremely successful, and many groups of women have had their skills levels raised to a point where they now have a growing income from this. RAC has access to a Department of Labour trainer, so all training they provide is fully certified.

Mission:
Our mission is to empower women to become economically self-sufficient and prosperous through entrepreneurship. We believe that giving women access to the mainstream economy will ultimately free them from their poverty.

Vision:
To create employment for the Delft community members.

Values:
Rise Above Circumstance embraces the following values:

• Honesty
• Integrity
• Reliability
• Loyalty
• Respect