Unlike most schools, transport is one of the core pillars of Christel House South Africa’s holistic education model. It is thanks to it that over 1,000 children across the Cape Flats are able to begin the journey to a brighter future before they even step into a classroom.
Cape Town, South Africa (05 August 2026) – Education doesn’t begin when a child walks into a classroom; it begins when they have a safe and reliable way to get there.
This is according to Christel House South Africa’s Development & Partnerships Director Lara Black at a time when South Africans are continuing to feel the impact of rising inflation and increasing fuel prices. Among the most vulnerable affected by this reality are the country’s youngest, who rely on safe transport to and from school.
The no-fee independent school transports 1,006 learners from 30 underserved communities across the Cape Flats to its campus in Ottery daily.
For many families, reliable transport is the difference between accessing a quality education and being excluded from it altogether. Unlike most schools, transport is one of the core pillars of Christel House’s holistic education model, alongside nutritious meals, healthcare, psychosocial support, academic support and its College & Career programme.
“Every increase at the fuel pump has a direct impact on our learners being able to access education,” says Black.
Christel House’s budget to transport learners safely to and from school is severely underfunded for the 2026 financial year. With the ongoing volatility in fuel prices, the cost of keeping children on the road to education is expected to increase even further.
Christel House Continues To Expand Its Reach
The organisation opened its second High School in May, significantly expanding access to quality secondary education, and added a new Grade RR classroom to meet growing demand for Early Childhood Development.
The latter is part of the school’s expansion of its Junior School, which will increase capacity by 50% and enable hundreds more children to benefit from its proven no-fee education and holistic support model.
“As we grow, so too do the operational costs that make education possible,” says Black.
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“Transport is one of the critical enablers of our model, yet it’s often invisible to those outside the education sector. Without it, our learners simply wouldn’t be able to attend school consistently or safely. Investing in learner transport is investing in educational access, attendance and ultimately better life outcomes.”
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Keeping Education Within Reach
The organisation is inviting individual donors, corporate partners, businesses, foundations and transport providers to help ensure that rising transport costs do not become another barrier to education.
“Every bus journey represents far more than a trip to school. It represents hope, opportunity and the chance for a child to fulfil their potential. As costs continue to rise, we urgently need partners who recognise that investing in transport is investing in education and in South Africa’s future leaders,” says Black.
How you can help:
To support Christel House South Africa’s learner transport service:
- Make a once-off donation by visiting www.sa.christelhouse.org and selecting “Transport” as your preferred area of support.
- Become a monthly donor by completing our online debit order form, available on their website. Regular monthly giving provides sustainable funding that helps keep Christel House South Africa’s learner transport service running throughout the year.
- To discuss corporate partnerships, sponsorship opportunities or monthly giving, contact Lara Black at [email protected].
Every contribution, regardless of size, helps ensure that rising transport costs do not become a barrier to a child’s education
Sources: Supplied
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