We are deeply honoured by our ongoing partnership with the African Bank. This collaboration continues to bring hope, dignity, and lasting change to six under-resourced schools across three provinces in South Africa. This partnership is a shared commitment to empowering the next generation through education.
In January, the Adopt-a-School Foundation had the privilege of joining African Bank representatives on a series of impactful school visits. These visits were not only about structural handovers and accountability sessions, but they were also moments of shared pride, reflection, and celebration of the extraordinary progress made through this powerful collaboration.
The schools visited included Fukama Primary School in Sebokeng, Thembinkosi LSEN School in Tembisa, Hlokohloko, Mpemvu, and Indawa Primary Schools in KwaZulu-Natal, and Lower Ndakana Primary School in the Eastern Cape. At each school, the joy was palpable. These weren’t just handovers of bricks and mortar, but gifts of opportunity, transformations that now touch the lives of more than 10,000 learners and support over 429 dedicated educators and school leaders.
A Closer Look at the Impact:
- Infrastructure Enhancements:
From the construction of two new dining and nutrition centres to five ablution facilities, six classrooms, and two solar-powered boreholes, these developments have dramatically improved daily life for learners. Ninety-one classrooms, a Grade R facility, and a feeding scheme kitchen have also been renovated with sustainability in mind. Wind and solar power systems, natural lighting, and improved ventilation were integrated to reduce costs and enhance learner wellbeing. - Educational Support:
Teachers have been upskilled in ICT, classrooms have been equipped with interactive digital boards, and learners with special needs have received essential assistive devices, tools that open doors to more inclusive, engaging education. - Learner Well-being:
Over 900 learners have received eye and hearing tests, along with spectacles and hearing aids where needed, restoring not just their sight or hearing but also their confidence and classroom participation. Uniforms, stationery, and backpacks were also donated, ensuring no child feels left behind due to a lack of resources. - Empowerment and Employment:
Beyond the schools, the initiative created local job opportunities and supported SMMES during construction, showing how community upliftment is woven into every layer of this partnership.
At the heart of these interventions is a powerful truth: every child deserves to learn in a safe, nurturing, and dignified environment. African Bank understands that education is more than a school subject; it is the most powerful lever for breaking cycles of poverty and building equity.
Their unwavering commitment to the African child sends a clear message: by investing in education today, we are shaping a better, fairer tomorrow.
To African Bank, we extend our deepest gratitude. Your belief in the power of education and your dedication to meaningful change have brought not just buildings, but hope, opportunity, and inspiration to thousands of learners. Together, we are not just building schools—we are building futures filled with promise.
