Rainbow Fund for South Africa

03/05/2026

We recently received a donation of childrens books which were greeted with much excitement from the students.

One of our teachers took the initiative to start a literacy programme with the younger children to help them with their reading, now that the school has more resources to share with them.

If you have any books suitable for children up to the age of 14 that you would like to donate and are based either in London or Cape Town we would love to hear from you!

26/04/2026

The homework school is housed in the J.L Zwane Centre in Guguletu. Guguletu is a township just outside Cape Town established in the 1960s as a black residential area in the Apartheid era. It has swollen in population size to over 100,000 people and has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country. The Township has a high level of crime and violence due to substance abuse and gangsterism and lack of water and proper sanitation.

The Rainbow School was founded by the Rev. Dr. Spiwo Xapile, a charismatic and far thinking man who was appalled by the effects of extreme poverty and of the Apartheid imposed “Bantu Education” that left under-educated parents ill equipped to help their children with their learning.

In 1999 Margaret Legum, a prominent activist in the Apartheid years saw for herself the hardships that Rev Xapile was facing and when she returned home to Richmond, UK formed the Rainbow Fund for South Africa Charity. This fund has enabled the school to flourish from 20 scholars to more than 200 and it is the legacy we are trying to protect today.

19/04/2026

The Homework School is an after school facility for pupils in Junior School aged 6 to 14, operating from Monday to Friday from 3pm to 5pm. The students come from a variety of local schools in Guguletu.

Many of the children have no facilities in their over cramped homes to do their homework nor can they rely on their parents or guardians assistance, with many orphaned or living in overcrowded foster care.

The school provides a safe and nurturing environment to assist the children with their homework as well as other educational needs.

The school relies 100% on charitable donations with all funds going directly to the school.

To donate: https://www.rainbowfund.org.uk/donate

15/04/2026

COMMITTED TO EDUCATION

Earlier this year Bongi Mepeni one of the administrators at the school attended a day of lectures for Educationalists at Cape Town University as part of their Summer School Programme.

Standing beside her is Medee Rall, Head of Adult Studies at Cape Town University and we are proud to say one of our governors for the Rainbow Fund for South Africa.

The continued running of the school, now more than 25 years old, relies on the expertise and freely given time of our administrators, teachers, governors and trustees. Something for which we, and the 200 children the school supports, will always be deeply grateful for.

19/02/2026

The courtyard in the middle of the JL Zwane Centre where the school is located is the heart of the school. The children congregate here for play and to eat.

Undernourishment of children is a major problem in the Township and impedes their learning ability. We supply a cooked and nourishing meal to the learners on their arrival at the school. This is often the only hot meal they will receive in the day and a major incentive for the children to attend the school each day.

This year with your donations we hope to be able to replace this awning, now in tatters, to provide shelter from the unrelenting African sun.

Go to our website for details on how to donate.

08/02/2026

The chairmen Hans and Denise Kortekaas met some of the children at a recent visit to the school.

The children were very well mannered, cheerful and smartly dressed in their different school uniforms.

Did you know that school uniforms are mandatory in all South African schools even the ones in the townships, putting additional financial strain on families especially those in poor areas.

100% of your donations go to the running of this school directly benefiting these children. You can donate here:-
https://www.rainbowfund.org.uk/donate

01/02/2026

01/02/2026

Some of our wonderful teachers that work at the Rainbow Homework School every day from 3.30pm to support the children with their studies.

We learnt that classroom sizes in the local schools are 48 children to one teacher, with no teaching assistant.

Ms Thembisa Qupe pictured here teaches at one of these local schools and brings 20 of her students with her to Rainbow at the end of the school day so she can continue to guide and care for them. She told us she wants to give these children the best chance in life that she can.

We have so much respect and gratitude for all the teachers, kitchen staff and administrators at Rainbow - thank you 🙏

23/01/2026

A beacon of hope. school is housed in the J.L Zwane Centre which was established in 2002 as a joint initiative of Stellenbosch University, the Church, Investec Bank and the Guguletu community to meet the needs of the people. The Clocktower of the centre stands proud, a beacon of hope to the people of the Township offering different programmes such as an HIV/AIDS support group and of course the Homework School.

We learnt this week that the school is so well established and known amongst the community that the children as young as 6 years old come to the school themselves to ask to join as they have heard through their families and friends all the good it does for their community 🙏

20/01/2026

The chairmen of , Denise and Hans Kortekaas, had a wonderful visit to the school today to discuss the plans for 2026 with administrators Sakhele and Bongi - thank you for everything you do 🙏