Non-profit school marks 25 years with launch of new high school for learners from underserved communities
Christel House South Africa marks 25 years with launch of new high school for learners from underserved communities
Image supplied by the publicist
At a time when access to quality high school education remains out of reach for many marginalised learners in the Western Cape, Christel House South Africa, a non-profit, no -fee school and public benefit organisation (PBO) has officially opened a new High School on its current campus. The school, which marks its 25th anniversary this year, officially opened the new facility during a commemorative ribbon-cutting event on 22 May 2026.
Christel House South Africa is expanding access to quality education for learners from 30 underserved communities in Cape Town by creating space for up to 300 additional High School learners and addressing growing demand for no-fee, high-quality secondary education. Since 2025, the school has already enrolled an additional 120 Grade 8 and 9 learners as part of the expansion.
Adri Marais, CEO of Christel House South Africa; David Maynier, Western Cape Minister of Education and Wendy Viljoen, Senior Manager: Edu Invest (Wesgro) Image supplied by the publicist The event was attended by the Western Cape Education Minister together with key stakeholders and donor partners. Western Cape Minister of Education, David Maynier, comments, “Christel House is a valued education partner and is helping to reshape how we view independent, non-profit education in South Africa. They are delivering excellent learning outcomes, along with a package of support for learners. We value their continued commitment to expanding quality educational opportunities in the Western Cape through the launch of this new High School and future expansion plans that will benefit learners from some of our most under-resourced communities.” The new building includes modern classrooms, a media centre, a Computer Applications Technology (CAT) lab, and administrative offices. It will accommodate up to 300 additional learners, while also providing expanded space for career development and social services support teams. David Maynier, Western Cape Minister of Education and Grade 11 students at Christel House South Africa Image supplied by the publicist “This new high school reflects what is possible when government, education and investment partners, together with our broader community align around a shared commitment to measurable impact in education. We’re deeply grateful to all our valued partners who have helped make this vision a reality. What has been created here is not only expanded access to quality education and holistic support for more children, but a scalable investment in long-term opportunity and social mobility. It is about ensuring that more children are given a seat at the table of life, as our founder, the late Christel DeHaan, so often said,” says Adri Marais, Chief Executive Officer of Christel House South Africa. Christel House South Africa currently serves 1000 learners from Grade RR to Grade 12, offering free education alongside a comprehensive support programme. This includes daily meals, transport, healthcare, psychosocial services, and career guidance, with continued support for up to five years after matric. The model is delivering results, with 95% of alumni transitioning into further education, employment, or other meaningful opportunities. While this event celebrates the launch of the high school, it also forms part of a broader and longer‑term vision. As part of its 2030 plan, Christel House South Africa is expanding its Junior School to accommodate 90 learners per grade, from Grade RR to Grade 7. The 50% expansion of the Junior School and a doubling of High School capacity means that by 2030, the school will accommodate 1410 learners on its Ottery campus. David Maynier, Western Cape Minister of Education with leadership from Christel House South Africa and Wesgro Image supplied by the publicist Separately, in March 2025, the organisation announced plans to establish an entirely new Grade RR–12 school. This future development reflects both the scale of demand and the organisation’s readiness to expand its impact, with the organisation awaiting the outcome of the City’s public participation process relating to land identified for a potential second Grade RR–12 campus. The proposed development remains in the site acquisition and approval phase and represents a significant opportunity for corporate partners, suppliers, philanthropists, and impact investors to participate in scaling a proven, holistic education model that is transforming outcomes for children from underserved communities. Founded by philanthropist Christel DeHaan, Christel House International operates 10 schools globally, with the Ottery campus its only presence in Africa. Five additional Christel House schools are in development, reflecting a growing international footprint and the scalability of its model. Members of the public and private sector interested in supporting the organisation’s work can find more information on its website at https://sa.christelhouse.org/ or by contacting Development and Partnerships Director, Lara Black / 083 326 1168. Image supplied by the publicist More about Christel House South Africa Christel House South Africa is a non-profit school with a single mission: A world where poverty does not limit potential. It offers no-fee scholarships to students from 29 of Cape Town’s severely under-served communities and supports them for 19 years (Grade RR to Grade 12 and five years post-matric) through character-based and career-focused education. The school’s beneficiaries include 999 students from grades RR to 12, 250+ post-matric students, and more than 3000 parents and other members of the communities it serves. The main criterion for admission to Christel House is not evidence of talent but of poverty, a measure of which is a maximum average income of between R1,800-R3,000 per household member per month. Key aspects of Christel House’s model include poverty mitigation services such as daily transport to school and back, professional health care, nutritious meals, psycho-social counselling, family assistance, and college and career planning and support. Throughout their schooling and beyond, learners receive consistent support through various projects and programmes, including career guidance, vocational preparation, character development, and post-matric alumni support. This extends to tertiary education, job placements, graduate mentoring, career workshops, and financial support, forming a network of impact that extends to families and communities. For more information visit our website https://sa.christelhouse.org/ and follow us on social media platforms - Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
