The Hands On Foundation

The Hands On Foundation Empowering Children Through Technical Education

She said it better than we ever could.“Your community shapes who you are and who you become. We come from a place where ...
16/06/2026

She said it better than we ever could.

“Your community shapes who you are and who you become. We come from a place where you see someone who wanted to be an engineer — but today he’s a drunkard. When you see people who had dreams but didn’t become who they wanted to be, you start fearing the same thing will happen to you. People project their fears, and what they faced, onto us— so we also start doubting ourselves. But when you are someone who studies at LEAP, that is a big deal. And they will say: ‘You think too much of yourself.’”

- One of our LEAP Crossroads students, addressing the barriers preventing success for her and her classmates.

This is exactly why the work matters. The Hands On Foundation and LEAP Schools exist to give students like her a different environment to grow into, one where ambition isn’t punished, and where dreaming big is the expectation, not the exception.

YouthEmpowerment SkillsForLife

12/06/2026

“You are because of who the community is. Your community shapes who you are and who you become.”

These words are from a student at LEAP School in Crossroads — and they say everything about what’s at stake.

When the community around you is defined by limited access and limited opportunity, that becomes the ceiling. The Hands On Foundation and LEAP Schools exist to raise it.

Two new technical facilities. Real tools. Real skills. Over 100 students who now have something different to grow into.

YouthEmpowerment SkillsForLife

08/06/2026

Take a walk through our LEAP School in Crossroads, where young people are given access to quality education, mentorship, and opportunities that help shape brighter futures.

Every classroom, corridor, and learning space represents a commitment to unlocking potential and creating pathways for success. Because when students are equipped with the right tools, support, and environment, there is no limit to what they can achieve.

This is more than a school. It’s a community investing in the next generation.

FutureLeaders MakingADifference

The Hands On Foundation, together with LEAP Schools, has officially handed over two brand-new technical and engineering ...
03/06/2026

The Hands On Foundation, together with LEAP Schools, has officially handed over two brand-new technical and engineering facilities, one in Crossroads, one in Langa, and over 100 students are already putting them to use.

These aren’t just classrooms. They’re spaces where young people get hands-on with real tools, real equipment, and real skills — from electrical systems and engineering fundamentals to technical drawing and construction basics. And during school holidays, students step into actual work environments to see how it all connects.

This is the same model that’s delivered a 100% matric pass rate in technical subjects at Wynberg Boys High School since 2020. Now it’s in the heart of our township communities, where access to this kind of education has historically been out of reach.

As LEAP Institute founder John Gilmore put it: “The greatest inhibitor of progress in our country is the divide in terms of access.”

We’re closing that divide — one school, one student at a time.
👉 Want to be part of this? Visit thehandsonfoundation.org to get involved or donate.

Crossroads Langa

01/06/2026

“A lack of guidance. A lack of motivation. I had to motivate myself.”

These are the words of one of our students as he reflects on the challenges many young people face after leaving school.

For some, the path forward is clear. For others, there is no mentor, no role model, and no one to help them navigate what comes next. When young people are given guidance, encouragement, and access to opportunity, everything changes. Confidence grows. Possibilities expand. Futures begin to take shape.

At Hands On Foundation, we’re committed to walking alongside young people as they discover their potential and build a future they can believe in.
Because no young person should have to figure it all out alone.

28/05/2026

A look inside the technical engineering facilities at our LEAP School in Langa.

Designed to bring practical learning into the centre of the school environment, these spaces give learners access to engineering, electrical, construction, and technical drawing subjects through both theory and hands-on application.

More than just classrooms, these facilities are helping create clearer pathways into further education, industry, and future employment — expanding access to opportunities that have historically been out of reach for many communities.

25/05/2026

“This faculty is opening doors for me.”
One of the most powerful parts of this work is hearing directly from the learners themselves — their excitement, clarity, and growing confidence about the future they want to build.

For students like this, access to technical and engineering education is not only about learning new skills. It’s about discovering direction, understanding opportunity, and gaining both the practical and theoretical foundation needed to pursue a future in fields like structural engineering.

This is exactly why these spaces matter.

19/05/2026

Technical education is no longer optional, it’s necessary.

As Jan de Waal explains, South Africa is facing a significant technical skills shortage across multiple industries. By introducing technical subjects at a school level, learners are able to gain early exposure to practical skills that better prepare them for university, technical institutions, and the workplace itself.

The Hands On Foundation’s work at LEAP Schools is about creating clearer pathways into opportunity, equipping learners with both the confidence and practical experience to take their next step forward.

14/05/2026

Why does hands-on learning matter?

At LEAP Science and Maths Schools, one thing has become clear over the years: confidence shapes futures.

When learners are given access to practical, hands-on education, they don’t just gain technical skills, they gain a stronger sense of direction, self-belief, and understanding of the pathways available to them.

The work being done through The Hands On Foundation is about more than facilities. It’s about helping young people leave school with the confidence to make informed choices about their future and the belief that those opportunities are within reach.

12/05/2026

More than 100 learners are currently part of The Hands On Foundation’s technical education programme — with over half of them being young women pursuing futures in engineering and the trades.

But the vision extends beyond the classroom.

Through ongoing industry exposure during school holidays and monthly workplace experience, learners are able to engage directly with real working environments while still in school.

As founder Saul Berman explains, the goal is clear: to create practical pathways from education into employment, equipping young people with the skills, confidence, and experience needed to contribute meaningfully to South Africa’s future economy.

Address

Plettenberg Bay
6600

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Hands On Foundation posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to The Hands On Foundation:

Shortcuts

Share

Category