Back to School: the future is brighter
“I want you to know thank you for giving us the uniforms and thank you for supporting us … we will never forget you and we will never forget what you did for us.” Pupil at Mdutshini School
In 2024, E3 supported 9,830 orphaned and vulnerable children with school uniforms, meals, Life Skills, psychosocial support, university registration, sanitary pads and preschool provision.
“We appreciate the support you are giving to our learners. Many children are orphaned and are being raised by grandparents or guardians, and some are raised by unemployed parents. They have various levels of vulnerability, but because of your support, they do not look like orphaned and vulnerable children. At school, they participate well and excel academically. Thank you for making such an enormous difference in their lives.”
— Bongiwe Phakathi, Chairperson of School Learner Support, Nobanda School
Back to School: building confidence, motivation and hope
“My goal is to become a lawyer or politician because I want to make a difference in my family and country. I also want to help other kids avoid going through what I experience. Life is difficult at home; we are a family of twelve, with eight grandchildren who rely on my gran's small government grant. In 2017, my aunt who was employed passed away. Receiving the uniform means a lot to me. I want to excel in my studies and pass with flying colours. I always want to perform at my highest level, regardless of the circumstances at home.”
“I live with my siblings and grandmother, who does her best to support me to succeed. Thank you for Life Skills – now I am planning for my future and know I need to be careful to make the right choices because I am the one that will build my life and not my friends. This year I received an award for improving in English. I want to be a doctor to help sick people to get better.”
“We have been monitoring attendance, grades, and behaviour and have noticed that Back to School students have increased attendance, academic performance, and confidence and engagement in school. We have started a chess club to enhance critical reasoning, problem-solving and strategic thinking. It has also fostered a sense of competition and team spirit among students.”
Kate Johnson, Project Leader at Key Ministry.
Improving life chances for toddlers in Mokhotlong, Lesotho
Preschool plays a vital role in improving the life chances of orphaned and vulnerable toddlers and provides a safe space during the day when they may be left alone while parents work or farm. In 2022, Pastor Thusanang Bane, in partnership with Mountaineers for Christ, founded Shekinah Preschool to address the local shortage of preschools.
Currently housed in a window-less corrugated iron building, Shekinah Preschool will soon move to a new brick facility, thanks to a legacy gift to E3. The building will accommodate up to 70 children, serve as a church on Sundays, and host community meetings. It will also include a toilet block with running water, bringing much-needed dignity to the community. We are thankful to local supporters who have provided water and low-cost electricity for the construction. Running costs will be supported by small fees from families who can afford to pay.
“I enrolled my twins here because it is a Christian school. They have not only learned numbers and language, but also spiritual values. I am truly happy to have them in this school, as I believe it will equip them to face future challenges. I am especially grateful for the ongoing construction of the school building. Previously, children had to be sent home when it rained due to the lack of proper shelter. This new building will ensure they can continue learning in all weather conditions.”
Bridging the education gap with dedication and sacrifice
The amazing teachers at Samaritan Community School in Kitwe, Zambia are volunteers. They provide education, hope and nurture to 513 orphaned and vulnerable children in Kitwe, Zambia. The children come from various slum communities affected by extreme poverty, HIV, teenage pregnancy, crime and drug abuse. They are less likely to complete school and many girls are forced into early marriages. Over the years, E3 has funded two brick classrooms to replace dilapidated wooden huts, a toilet block with running water, classroom furniture and nutritious school meals. In 2025, we also started to pay a small monthly stipend for the incredibly dedicated volunteer teachers to help with their living costs.
E3 partner, Centre for Christian Missions (CCM), supports Samaritan School spiritually and practically. The CCM team provides counselling, Life Skills workshops and exam preparation classes as well as football, which is a great hit! E3 is delighted that children in recent years passed their high school entry exams and are now at local high schools and some are at university.
University support: “I’m ready to go again in my second year!”
E3 is enabling young people to go on to university or training so they can escape the cycle of poverty, achieve their career dreams and support their families. Most children who complete school in rural communities stay at home after high school because they do not have access to information about universities in the city and have no idea where to begin. E3 runs career expos so they are well informed and pays university registration fees, so South African students can access a full bursary for their studies.
Thenjiwe is studying a 3 year degree in Agriculture: Animal Production.
“My first year at university was filled with different kinds of emotions and experiences. Studying is challenging and exams are draining. Adapting to independent learning, time management and academic pressure and overcoming homesickness and loneliness really took a toll on me. I had to learn from my failures and mistakes. I thank God that I managed to pass and I'm ready to go again in the second year. I am very grateful for the financial support from E3. I don’t know how I could have managed to get all the things that I needed during the first semester without you.” Thenjiwe did well in her end of year exams, passing all her subjects and some with distinction.