SA Foundation Awards $25K Each to Five Rural Schools

Five schools across South Africa are about to get a major upgrade, thanks to a foundation that let its own employees decide where the money should go.

The SA Home Loans Foundation launched its "Shining Schools" initiative by giving workers a meaningful choice: nominate a school you attended or one you know needs help. The response led to five schools splitting $125,000, with each receiving $25,000 to invest directly in their students' futures.

The winning schools span three provinces often overlooked in education funding. In KwaZulu-Natal, Ekupholeni High School, Mabizela High School, and Open Air School each received checks hand-delivered by foundation representatives. Baphutheng Senior Secondary School in Limpopo and Arcadia High School in the Eastern Cape rounded out the group.

What makes this program special is the personal connection behind each nomination. Employee Fikile Mkhize chose Ekupholeni High School, while Phakamile Mbambo nominated Mabizela High School, and their colleagues did the same for the other three schools. These weren't random selections from a database but schools that employees knew personally needed support.

Between February and March 2025, foundation director Pam Nene and her team visited each school personally to deliver the funds. No wire transfers or bureaucratic delays, just people showing up to celebrate communities working hard against difficult odds.

The Ripple Effect

The $125,000 represents more than new textbooks or equipment. When employees get to direct their company's charitable giving, they become invested in outcomes rather than just writing checks. The five nominators now have tangible connections to positive change in their communities.

The SA Home Loans Foundation focuses on three core areas: high school education, small business investment, and crisis support. By centering their education initiative on employee knowledge rather than committee decisions, they've tapped into authentic community needs.

These five schools are already achieving strong results despite limited resources, which is exactly why they were chosen. The funding won't rescue failing institutions but will amplify success stories that deserve recognition.

Hundreds of students across three provinces will benefit from better learning environments because their teachers, alumni, or community members work at a company that asked the right question: who do you think deserves support?