Finally, Lockdown restrictions have eased off and our school has re-opened its doors. Christel House South Africa, a non-profit school in Ottery, Cape Town, is a safe haven for 750 students who all come from 20 impoverished communities on the Cape Flats. We need your help to purchase COVID-related hygiene & personal protective equipment to keep our students and staff safe as they return to the “normality” of school life.

Since opening our doors at the end of August, we are proud to have very strict safety practices in place – including providing each student with 3 face masks, screening and sanitizing students before entering our school buses and the campus. We have implemented social distancing, installing safety screens on teachers’ desks, and sterilizing our classrooms and buses daily. All of these additional measures cost money. Help us to keep doors open and keep our students safe.

As you know, we are doing all we can to keep our students and staff safe and productive during these stressful times. The threat of a second wave of infection is ever-present and thus it is imperative that we keep our guard up until at least the end of 2020.

We know that we can’t do it without YOU!

All South African donors will receive Section 18A tax-deductible certificates and businesses can also earn BEE points for their contributions.

Sanlam Cape Town Virtual Marathon 2020: We are an official charity partner of this year’s virtual event, taking place on 18 October. Through the Virtual Marathon App, runners will be able to run on the day and have an immersive experience as race progress, speed and running time will be tracked on the app. Donate to our cause or start your own fundraising drive with friends and family. Read more about the marathon here: https://www.givengain.com/e/ct... 

Christel House South Africa – Running in the right direction since 2001

About Christel House South Africa:
Christel House South Africa is a non-profit school with a single mission: to break the cycle of poverty. Since 2001, we have offered no-fee scholarships to students from some of Cape Town’s poorest neighbourhoods and supported them for 18 years (Grade R to Grade 12 and five years post matric) through character-based and career focused education. Our beneficiaries include 750 students from grade R to 12, 250+ post-matric students and more than 4000 parents and other members of the communities we serve.

The main criterion for admission to Christel House is not evidence of talent – but evidence of poverty, one measure of which is a maximum average income of R1,500 per household member per month. (Less than most of us pay for petrol in a month). Key aspects of our model include poverty mitigation services in the form of daily transport to school and back, professional health care, nutritious meals, psychosocial counselling, family assistance and college and careers planning and support.

We are justifiably proud of our 99% matric pass rate since inception and that 93% of our alumni are studying, working or both. In doing so, we transform the lives of our students and help to build self-sufficient, contributing members of society.

Visit www.sa.christelhouse.org to learn more.