- Education & Enterprise ·
Funding Our Primary School in South Africa
We’re working with a school built to provide education to bridge the gap between private and government education in South Africa
- South Africa
- hello@actionchange.org
Project Summary
Project Challenge
Project Solution
Impact
Reports
Project Summary
Our Primary School is more than just a place to learn-it’s a vital opportunity for around 200 children who would otherwise face overcrowded, under-resourced schools. We bridge the gap by offering quality education, small classes, and dedicated teachers from Grade R to Grade 7. Your support helps cover school fees, learning materials, teacher salaries, food, electricity and daily care-ensuring every child receives the education they deserve to grow, thrive, and succeed without the high price tag.
Project Challenge
Masiphumelele, like many South African townships, faces deep inequality. Overcrowded housing, poor sanitation, and limited access to clean water create daily hardship. These conditions extend into education-schools lack resources, infrastructure is failing, teachers are overwhelmed, and dropout rates are high. Children in this community are too often denied the quality education they deserve. Unless children are provided a quality education they will never break the poverty cycle they live in
Project Solution
Our school for 15 years has worked to close the education gap we’ve grown from a single Grade R class of 20 children to a full primary school supporting over 200 learners. Our holistic approach ensures students not only attend school but thrive in it-laying the foundation for long-term change in their lives and their community breaking the cycle of poverty through lasting educational support.
Impact
This project will benefit the children at the school, by providing them with access to quality education that will provide a solid foundation for the rest of their learning, as well as providing the school with educational material and resources that can enhance their classes. These children will then be able to continue their studies not having missed out on any important learning in their first few years of school, reducing the chances of them struggling in higher education.
Reports
Project Report | Oct 6, 2026
Busy times at the primary school
By William Day | Impact and Operations Officer
We’re just come to the end of Term 3 and ready for our last term starting this week, our school is doing well but every month we’re short of $2,500 to cover our running costs and everyone safe and learning at our school. While we have worked hard to get government funding to help fill this space we’re done everything they have asked but the process can take 18 months so we just need to hang-on and ensure we don’t go down before we get there! This is why we need you!!! In the classroom….
It’s been another busy, colourful and memorable few months at School! From exciting outings and special events to classroom adventures, creative activities and plenty of fun along the way, there has been so much happening across our school. We love sharing these little moments with you; the smiles, the learning, the laughter and the experiences that make our school community so special. Just in time for Mandela Day, every child at Bhongolethu received a beautiful hand-knitted beanie, lovingly made by the wonderful people from Cape Town Yarn Fest. Each beanie was handmade with love, keeping our children warm and putting lots of smiles on little faces!
A heartfelt thank you to all the kind people who knitted for our children, and a very special thank you to Rebecca for making it all happen. What a beautiful way to celebrate the spirit of Mandela Day! Our Vegetable garden continues to flourish! The children love watching everything grow and learning where their food comes from along the way. Remember 8 years ago your donations was largely taken up covering our food bill that today is much lower and we just cover basic items and a cook while the rest is fresh and grown at our school! We have a cake sale at school, it was great for the community to get involved and we raised around $145, every little counts! Our Grade R had a great day dressing up for careers day, inspiring them for their future career is such a great day! We had the children From doctors and teachers to firefighters and future entrepreneurs, the children loved sharing what they dream of becoming one day. It was a wonderful opportunity to encourage our little ones to dream big, explore different careers and believe in all the possibilities ahead of them. At the end of term we took out Grade 4 out for the morning to the local putt putt for a bit of end of term fun, sadly we can’t afford to rent a bus or even buy a bus for our school so thanks to action change and some other local retired supporters of our school we managed to get a few drivers to fill up their cars with our children and take them on this little adventure. Our amazing donors from around the world helped us survive August shortfall, September the teachers got dressed up and run Battle of the Decades Fundraiser event raising over 43,000R (covering our shortfall for September), we’re worried about October and beyond….
Project Report | Jul 7, 2026
Equal education opportunities for all
By shayle havemann | Project leader
Jobs are hard to come by, so parents often cannot pay their school fees, with the employment rate being 38.7% as of 2022. The minimum wage is R23 per hour, which is just $10.50 per day. All of the parents at our schools fall into this category. These parents are in survival mode constantly, so putting a meal on the table for their family is more important that paying school fees. This program helps parents keep their child at our quality shools, where they receive quality education and it helps the child acquire the education they deserve. Why should only privileged children be allowed to have access to better education? “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world,” Nelson Mandela. Thank you for your supportProject Report | Mar 6, 2026
We’re Moving Forward
By Debbie and Team | Project Volunteer
Fancy Dress Donated From Visitors From The UK
Hi everyone,
I’m sitting here today with a heart that feels very full. If you could see the sun shining over our schools today, you’d understand why. We have reached a milestone we’ve been dreaming of for ten years, and it’s all thanks to the support of this community.
The Class of 2025: A 10-Year Journey In December, we experienced a moment of pure joy: our very first Grade 7 class graduated from our primary school! We have been with these children for a decade, watching them grow from wide-eyed little ones into skilled, confident young people. Seeing them move on to secondary school, fully equipped and ready to take on the world, is the ultimate proof that our impact is working.
At the same time, we celebrated four of our “little ones” graduating from our Siyakhula ECD centre. They didn’t have far to travel they’ve just moved right across to join our primary school family!
Fueling Potential: 186 Smiles Every Day Your donations continue to be the fuel behind our classrooms. This past term, we were able to fund our Breakfast Club for 140 children at the primary school, ensuring no child starts their lessons on an empty stomach. At our Educare centre, your support provided breakfast, fresh fruit, and lunch for all 46 of our children. It’s more than just food; it’s the energy they need to learn, play, and thrive.
Big Wins for Safety
The safety of our children is always our top priority. We are thrilled to share that in 2025, we successfully raised 300,000 ZAR to build a full perimeter safety fence around the primary school. It has completely changed the atmosphere—the children feel safe, and the school is finally a protected sanctuary.
At Siyakhula, we’ve also used recent funds to build a heavy-duty secure cage inside the centre. After a series of heartbreaking break-ins where we lost food and equipment, this cage is a game-changer. Our fridges, freezers, and computers are finally locked away safely. We’ve even replaced our metal taps with plastic to make the school less of a target for thieves.
Our Next Big Step: Securing Siyakhula
While the new fence at the primary school is a huge victory, we now need to bring that same level of security to Siyakhula. We’ve been working with Trelli-door, a leading security company, who were so moved by our mission that they’ve sourced off-cuts and donated materials to help us.
They’ve given us an incredible deal: £5,500 for a full security overhaul (originally quoted at over £14,000!). This is our big focus for 2026. Once Siyakhula is truly secure, we can finally begin our dream of turning the old classroom into a magical indoor/outdoor play space with astroturf and plants.
A Look Toward 2026 As we look at our 46 children at the ECD and 170+ at the primary school, we are reminded that we aren’t just running schools; we are building a village. We still have eight little ones from unemployed single-parent homes waiting for scholarships to join us at Siyakhula—for £40 a month £480 for a full year , we can get them off the street and into a classroom so I ask you once again please help us raise these funds or even please share our project with your networks and together we can keep every child safe and in school
Thank you for being part of this journey with us. Whether you’ve been here since the beginning or just joined us, you are changing lives in Cape Town.
______________________________________________________
Sep 8, 2025
15 years and our dream is in sight because of you
By Tyrone Bennett | CEO of Action Change
Let’s Bring Sports Alive Together
Hello Friends, Supporters from around the world!Can you believe it’s already been three months since my last update? Time really does fly, and in that time so much has been happening here at our little school in Cape Town. I’m so grateful to share this journey with you as you’re part of every single milestone we reach.
One of the most amazing things lately has been seeing our women’s empowerment team using the school space. Suddenly, our classrooms aren’t just for children they’ve become a space where women in the community come to learn, grow, and support one another. This has always been part of our vision: not just to be a school, but a true community hub. To see it finally happening has been a dream come true.
At the same time, our children are hard at work. Right now, we’re running a big stationery and supplies drive and we’re buying everything from pencils and exercise books to art materials and science kits for the rest of 2025. It’s a huge expense of 52,000 ZAR (about $2,800 USD), which works out to around 370 ZAR ($20 USD) per child ( I love to break it down like this as I feel we can do it when you look at it this way! )
And then, of course, there’s our Grade 7s, our original “OGs.” They were the very first group of little ones who walked into our Grade R class all those years ago. Now, they’re preparing for exams and getting ready to graduate at the end of this year. Our first-ever class to move on to secondary school! It’s emotional, exciting, and honestly a little overwhelming for all of us. Their success is proof that this dream of affordable, quality education in the township is working.
We’re still battling, though. Each month we face a £3,300 shortfall just to keep the doors open, and while we’ve had some amazing donations over the last few months, the worry never quite goes away. The big hope is that by May 2026, our government registration will come through, and from that point on, the school will be 100% financially stable. That day, when we can finally say “we did it,” is what keeps us pushing through the tough moments and a smle on our face.
Of course, we’ve also had challenges with security. We know upgrades are needed, but right now we’re pouring everything into education and salaries. Security improvements will come when we can afford them. It’s a tough decision as we really understand how important it is to keep everyone safe however we can’t fail now and so we must prioritise our tasks ahead.
And now, as summer approaches, there’s something that has the children absolutely buzzing as we’ve invited national rugby players and a rugby foundation to our school on 27th November to launch our very first mixed rugby team! We don’t yet have the resources to add sport to the curriculum, but we’re working on raising £200 a month to hire a coach and £600 for equipment to get started and so far we’re raised 35% of this.
After that, the big dream is to raise enough for a school bus so the children can actually travel to play games. I can already imagine the pride on their faces when they put on their kit and step onto the field as a team.
So, that’s where we are right now: celebrating the wins, working hard on today’s challenges, and holding tight to some big, beautiful dreams for tomorrow. None of this would be possible without you. Every single smile, every achievement, every hopeful dream, they’re all thanks to your kindness and belief in us.
We hope you enjoyed our little update and remember if you ever in Cape Town do come and visit us and I really hope our update puts a smile on your face as we couldn’t do it without you!
Thank You,
Tyrone
Our Primary School is more than just a place to learn-it’s a vital opportunity for around 200 children who would otherwise face overcrowded, under-resourced schools. We bridge the gap by offering quality education, small classes, and dedicated teachers from Grade R to Grade 7. Your support helps cover school fees, learning materials, teacher salaries, food, electricity and daily care-ensuring every child receives the education they deserve to grow, thrive, and succeed without the high price tag.
Masiphumelele, like many South African townships, faces deep inequality. Overcrowded housing, poor sanitation, and limited access to clean water create daily hardship. These conditions extend into education-schools lack resources, infrastructure is failing, teachers are overwhelmed, and dropout rates are high. Children in this community are too often denied the quality education they deserve. Unless children are provided a quality education they will never break the poverty cycle they live in
Our school for 15 years has worked to close the education gap we’ve grown from a single Grade R class of 20 children to a full primary school supporting over 200 learners. Our holistic approach ensures students not only attend school but thrive in it-laying the foundation for long-term change in their lives and their community breaking the cycle of poverty through lasting educational support.
This project will benefit the children at the school, by providing them with access to quality education that will provide a solid foundation for the rest of their learning, as well as providing the school with educational material and resources that can enhance their classes. These children will then be able to continue their studies not having missed out on any important learning in their first few years of school, reducing the chances of them struggling in higher education.
Project Report | Oct 6, 2026
Busy times at the primary school
By William Day | Impact and Operations Officer
We’re just come to the end of Term 3 and ready for our last term starting this week, our school is doing well but every month we’re short of $2,500 to cover our running costs and everyone safe and learning at our school. While we have worked hard to get government funding to help fill this space we’re done everything they have asked but the process can take 18 months so we just need to hang-on and ensure we don’t go down before we get there! This is why we need you!!! In the classroom….
It’s been another busy, colourful and memorable few months at School! From exciting outings and special events to classroom adventures, creative activities and plenty of fun along the way, there has been so much happening across our school. We love sharing these little moments with you; the smiles, the learning, the laughter and the experiences that make our school community so special. Just in time for Mandela Day, every child at Bhongolethu received a beautiful hand-knitted beanie, lovingly made by the wonderful people from Cape Town Yarn Fest. Each beanie was handmade with love, keeping our children warm and putting lots of smiles on little faces!
A heartfelt thank you to all the kind people who knitted for our children, and a very special thank you to Rebecca for making it all happen. What a beautiful way to celebrate the spirit of Mandela Day! Our Vegetable garden continues to flourish! The children love watching everything grow and learning where their food comes from along the way. Remember 8 years ago your donations was largely taken up covering our food bill that today is much lower and we just cover basic items and a cook while the rest is fresh and grown at our school! We have a cake sale at school, it was great for the community to get involved and we raised around $145, every little counts! Our Grade R had a great day dressing up for careers day, inspiring them for their future career is such a great day! We had the children From doctors and teachers to firefighters and future entrepreneurs, the children loved sharing what they dream of becoming one day. It was a wonderful opportunity to encourage our little ones to dream big, explore different careers and believe in all the possibilities ahead of them. At the end of term we took out Grade 4 out for the morning to the local putt putt for a bit of end of term fun, sadly we can’t afford to rent a bus or even buy a bus for our school so thanks to action change and some other local retired supporters of our school we managed to get a few drivers to fill up their cars with our children and take them on this little adventure. Our amazing donors from around the world helped us survive August shortfall, September the teachers got dressed up and run Battle of the Decades Fundraiser event raising over 43,000R (covering our shortfall for September), we’re worried about October and beyond….
Project Report | Jul 7, 2026
Equal education opportunities for all
By shayle havemann | Project leader
Jobs are hard to come by, so parents often cannot pay their school fees, with the employment rate being 38.7% as of 2022. The minimum wage is R23 per hour, which is just $10.50 per day. All of the parents at our schools fall into this category. These parents are in survival mode constantly, so putting a meal on the table for their family is more important that paying school fees. This program helps parents keep their child at our quality shools, where they receive quality education and it helps the child acquire the education they deserve. Why should only privileged children be allowed to have access to better education? “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world,” Nelson Mandela. Thank you for your supportProject Report | Mar 6, 2026
We’re Moving Forward
By Debbie and Team | Project Volunteer
Fancy Dress Donated From Visitors From The UK
Hi everyone,
I’m sitting here today with a heart that feels very full. If you could see the sun shining over our schools today, you’d understand why. We have reached a milestone we’ve been dreaming of for ten years, and it’s all thanks to the support of this community.
The Class of 2025: A 10-Year Journey In December, we experienced a moment of pure joy: our very first Grade 7 class graduated from our primary school! We have been with these children for a decade, watching them grow from wide-eyed little ones into skilled, confident young people. Seeing them move on to secondary school, fully equipped and ready to take on the world, is the ultimate proof that our impact is working.
At the same time, we celebrated four of our “little ones” graduating from our Siyakhula ECD centre. They didn’t have far to travel they’ve just moved right across to join our primary school family!
Fueling Potential: 186 Smiles Every Day Your donations continue to be the fuel behind our classrooms. This past term, we were able to fund our Breakfast Club for 140 children at the primary school, ensuring no child starts their lessons on an empty stomach. At our Educare centre, your support provided breakfast, fresh fruit, and lunch for all 46 of our children. It’s more than just food; it’s the energy they need to learn, play, and thrive.
Big Wins for Safety
The safety of our children is always our top priority. We are thrilled to share that in 2025, we successfully raised 300,000 ZAR to build a full perimeter safety fence around the primary school. It has completely changed the atmosphere—the children feel safe, and the school is finally a protected sanctuary.
At Siyakhula, we’ve also used recent funds to build a heavy-duty secure cage inside the centre. After a series of heartbreaking break-ins where we lost food and equipment, this cage is a game-changer. Our fridges, freezers, and computers are finally locked away safely. We’ve even replaced our metal taps with plastic to make the school less of a target for thieves.
Our Next Big Step: Securing Siyakhula
While the new fence at the primary school is a huge victory, we now need to bring that same level of security to Siyakhula. We’ve been working with Trelli-door, a leading security company, who were so moved by our mission that they’ve sourced off-cuts and donated materials to help us.
They’ve given us an incredible deal: £5,500 for a full security overhaul (originally quoted at over £14,000!). This is our big focus for 2026. Once Siyakhula is truly secure, we can finally begin our dream of turning the old classroom into a magical indoor/outdoor play space with astroturf and plants.
A Look Toward 2026 As we look at our 46 children at the ECD and 170+ at the primary school, we are reminded that we aren’t just running schools; we are building a village. We still have eight little ones from unemployed single-parent homes waiting for scholarships to join us at Siyakhula—for £40 a month £480 for a full year , we can get them off the street and into a classroom so I ask you once again please help us raise these funds or even please share our project with your networks and together we can keep every child safe and in school
Thank you for being part of this journey with us. Whether you’ve been here since the beginning or just joined us, you are changing lives in Cape Town.
______________________________________________________
Sep 8, 2025
15 years and our dream is in sight because of you
By Tyrone Bennett | CEO of Action Change
Let’s Bring Sports Alive Together
Hello Friends, Supporters from around the world!Can you believe it’s already been three months since my last update? Time really does fly, and in that time so much has been happening here at our little school in Cape Town. I’m so grateful to share this journey with you as you’re part of every single milestone we reach.
One of the most amazing things lately has been seeing our women’s empowerment team using the school space. Suddenly, our classrooms aren’t just for children they’ve become a space where women in the community come to learn, grow, and support one another. This has always been part of our vision: not just to be a school, but a true community hub. To see it finally happening has been a dream come true.
At the same time, our children are hard at work. Right now, we’re running a big stationery and supplies drive and we’re buying everything from pencils and exercise books to art materials and science kits for the rest of 2025. It’s a huge expense of 52,000 ZAR (about $2,800 USD), which works out to around 370 ZAR ($20 USD) per child ( I love to break it down like this as I feel we can do it when you look at it this way! )
And then, of course, there’s our Grade 7s, our original “OGs.” They were the very first group of little ones who walked into our Grade R class all those years ago. Now, they’re preparing for exams and getting ready to graduate at the end of this year. Our first-ever class to move on to secondary school! It’s emotional, exciting, and honestly a little overwhelming for all of us. Their success is proof that this dream of affordable, quality education in the township is working.
We’re still battling, though. Each month we face a £3,300 shortfall just to keep the doors open, and while we’ve had some amazing donations over the last few months, the worry never quite goes away. The big hope is that by May 2026, our government registration will come through, and from that point on, the school will be 100% financially stable. That day, when we can finally say “we did it,” is what keeps us pushing through the tough moments and a smle on our face.
Of course, we’ve also had challenges with security. We know upgrades are needed, but right now we’re pouring everything into education and salaries. Security improvements will come when we can afford them. It’s a tough decision as we really understand how important it is to keep everyone safe however we can’t fail now and so we must prioritise our tasks ahead.
And now, as summer approaches, there’s something that has the children absolutely buzzing as we’ve invited national rugby players and a rugby foundation to our school on 27th November to launch our very first mixed rugby team! We don’t yet have the resources to add sport to the curriculum, but we’re working on raising £200 a month to hire a coach and £600 for equipment to get started and so far we’re raised 35% of this.
After that, the big dream is to raise enough for a school bus so the children can actually travel to play games. I can already imagine the pride on their faces when they put on their kit and step onto the field as a team.
So, that’s where we are right now: celebrating the wins, working hard on today’s challenges, and holding tight to some big, beautiful dreams for tomorrow. None of this would be possible without you. Every single smile, every achievement, every hopeful dream, they’re all thanks to your kindness and belief in us.
We hope you enjoyed our little update and remember if you ever in Cape Town do come and visit us and I really hope our update puts a smile on your face as we couldn’t do it without you!
Thank You,
Tyrone
Related posts
- Education & Enterprise ·