Imbeleko Foundation urgently needs to raise R500,000 by 20 May to secure the continued education of 30 high-potential Grade 10–12 rural learners from the rural village of KwaNyuswa, KwaZulu-Natal.

These learners were part of Imbeleko’s hybrid STEM school model, but persistent electricity cable theft, prolonged power outages, and unreliable internet have made consistent online learning impossible. Imbeleko has therefore moved them to Roseway Waldorf School, a stable, holistic school environment located 15km from their community.

This is not a new beginning. These learners are already on a proven pathway toward matric, university and future careers. Without urgent funding, they risk losing academic continuity at the most critical stage of their schooling.

Imbeleko has already secured significant support, including a 50% school fee discount from Roseway Waldorf School and alumni contributions for transport. However, an urgent R500,000 upfront gap remains to protect Term 2 learning and keep the cohort in school.

Full Campaign Story

For 15 years, Imbeleko Foundation has worked in rural KwaNyuswa to identify and support academically talented but socially marginalised learners.

What began as a “pay-it-forward” scholarship pact between twin sisters, the late Dr Seni Myeni-Offiah and Sbu Myeni, has grown into a holistic education movement that has reached over 10,000 rural learners through scholarships, STEM programmes, afterschool learning, digital skills development and psychosocial support.

Imbeleko’s learners have gone on to become medical doctors, engineers, chartered accountants, STEM educators, tech specialists and university graduates.

But this year, we have faced one of our most difficult transitions. Our hybrid STEM school model, developed to give rural learners access to quality education through digital learning, has become unsustainable because of repeated electricity cable theft, prolonged power outages and unreliable internet connectivity.

At Grade 10–12 level, this is devastating. These are the final years before matric, university access and career pathways. Without a stable learning environment, these learners could lose an entire academic year.

To protect them, Imbeleko has urgently transitioned 30 learners to Roseway Waldorf School, a holistic independent school in Hillcrest, just 15km from KwaNyuswa.

Roseway has generously offered a 50% discount on school fees, reducing the annual tuition cost from R110,000 per learner to R55,000 per learner. Imbeleko Alumni have also stepped forward. But we still urgently need R500,000 by 20 May to secure the immediate funding gap and keep the learners in school.

This campaign is about academic continuity. It is about protecting rural talent. It is about ensuring that 30 young people who have already overcome enormous barriers do not fall through the cracks now.

They are not starting from scratch. They are on the edge of breakthrough.

What the Money Will Support

Funds raised will go towards:

1. School fees

Securing Term 2 academic placement at Roseway Waldorf School

2. Transport

Daily transport from KwaNyuswa to Roseway

3. Learning continuity

Ensuring learners do not lose the academic year

4. Transition support

Helping learners settle into a stable, holistic school environment

Giving Tiers

R250 / $15

Helps with daily transport and learner support

R500 / $30

Supports meals, transport and transition costs

R1,000 / $55

Helps keep a learner in school for critical learning days

R5,000 / $275

Supports one learner’s transition package

R10,000 / $550

Contributes meaningfully toward school fees

R55,000 / $3,000 approx.

Sponsors one learner for the year

R275,000 / $15,000 approx.

Sponsors five learners

R500,000 / $27,000 approx.

Closes the immediate urgent gap

Imbeleko Foundation is a registered PBO and can issue Section 18A tax certificates for qualifying donations.

This support also qualifies as a meaningful Socio-Economic Development contribution for businesses.

Deadline: 20 May

Urgent target: R500,000

Learners supported: 30

Location: KwaNyuswa, Valley of 1000 Hills, KwaZulu-Natal