Volunteering abroad has always been seen as a meaningful way to give back.

But in 2026, it matters more than ever.

Across the world, millions of children still lack access to quality education, safe learning environments, and the support they need to reach their potential. In South Africa alone, 81% of children aged 9–10 cannot read for meaning, a statistic that highlights the scale of the global education challenge.

For those considering volunteering abroad, the opportunity is not just to help, but to be part of real, long-term change.

What is Volunteering Abroad?

Volunteering abroad involves travelling to another country to contribute to projects that support communities in need.

These programmes can include:

• Education and literacy initiatives
• School building and infrastructure development
• Community support and development projects

The most effective volunteer programmes are structured, sustainable, and designed to deliver long-term impact, not just short-term assistance.

Why Volunteering Abroad Matters More Than Ever

The challenges facing communities around the world are growing, particularly in education.

In many regions:

• Schools are overcrowded or under-resourced
• Teachers lack support and materials
• Children fall behind at an early age

Without intervention, these challenges can affect entire generations.

Volunteering abroad, when done correctly, helps address these gaps by supporting programmes that focus on education, infrastructure, and long-term development.

The Real Impact of Volunteering Abroad

The impact of volunteering abroad goes far beyond the immediate work on-site.

Effective programmes:

• Improve access to education
• Support literacy development
• Strengthen communities over time

For example, improving school environments creates the foundation for better learning outcomes, while literacy-focused initiatives help children develop essential skills for the future.

The key is sustainability, ensuring that every effort contributes to lasting change.

What Do You Gain from Volunteering Abroad?

While the impact on communities is significant, the experience also has a lasting effect on volunteers.

Many people gain:

• Greater confidence and independence
• A broader global perspective
• Stronger teamwork and communication skills
• A deeper understanding of global challenges

For students and young people in particular, volunteering abroad can be a transformative experience that shapes future decisions and ambitions.

Common Questions About Volunteering Abroad

Do I need experience?

No. Most programmes are designed for people with no prior experience. Training and support are provided throughout.

Is volunteering abroad safe

Reputable organisations provide structured, supervised programmes with experienced teams in place to ensure safety at all times.

Is it actually worth it?

When delivered through well-managed programmes, volunteering abroad creates measurable, long-term impact for both communities and participants.

Why South Africa?

South Africa is one of the countries where the need and the opportunity to make a difference is particularly clear.

Challenges in education and literacy remain significant, but targeted programmes are helping to address these issues through:

• Improved school infrastructure
• Literacy-focused initiatives
• Community-based support

For volunteers, this means the chance to contribute to meaningful, measurable change.

Ready to Get Involved?

If you’re considering volunteering abroad, choosing the right programme is key.

👉 Explore volunteer programmes in South Africa
👉 Learn about our student volunteer programme abroad
👉 Discover how Mellon Educate supports education and literacy

For many students, school is about exams, routines, and staying within familiar surroundings.

But what if one year could offer something more?

A chance to travel, step outside your comfort zone, and take part in a student volunteer programme abroad that delivers real impact.

In South Africa, thousands of children face barriers to education every day. For students who take part, this programme offers the opportunity to be part of meaningful change, while developing skills that last a lifetime.

What is a Student Volunteer Programme Abroad?

A student volunteer programme abroad gives young people the opportunity to travel, work as part of a team, and contribute to real-world projects in communities that need support.

At Mellon Educate, this includes:

• Supporting the development of schools
• Taking part in hands-on building work
• Contributing to literacy-focused initiatives

For Irish students, this can form part of a Transition Year experience, but the programme is designed to be valuable for any student seeking a meaningful experience abroad.

What Do Students Actually Do?

Students are fully involved in the experience from day one.

They take part in:

• Building and improving school facilities
• Painting and preparing classrooms
• Supporting structured team activities on-site
• Working alongside volunteers from different backgrounds

No experience is required; everything is guided and supervised.

Skills Students Develop

This isn’t just a trip, it’s a development experience.

Students gain:

• Confidence and independence
• Teamwork and communication skills
• A broader understanding of global challenges
• A new perspective on education and opportunity

These are skills that carry forward into school, university, and future careers.

A Safe and Structured Programme

For parents and schools, safety and structure are essential.

The student volunteer programme is:

• Fully organised and supervised
• Delivered with experienced team leaders on-site
• Designed specifically for young people
• Built around teamwork, responsibility, and support

Students are guided throughout, ensuring a safe and rewarding experience.

The Real Impact

This programme is focused on education and long-term change.

Students contribute to:

• Building and improving school environments
• Creating spaces where literacy programmes can take place
• Supporting communities through education-focused initiatives

In South Africa, 81% of children aged 9–10 cannot read for meaning. Addressing this challenge starts with access to safe, effective learning environments.

By taking part, students become part of a wider effort to improve literacy and create opportunity.

Why This Experience Stays With Students

For many students, this is the first time they:

• Travel independently
• Work on a real-world project
• See the direct impact of their actions

It builds confidence, perspective, and a sense of purpose that stays long after they return home.

Is This the Right Programme for You?

If you’re a student or a parent exploring meaningful opportunities, this programme offers something different.

It combines:

• Travel
• Personal development
• Real impact

All within a structured and supportive environment.

Ready to Take Part?

If you’re looking for a student volunteer programme abroad that offers more than just travel, this is your opportunity.

👉 Apply for the Student Programme 2027
👉 Learn more about volunteering in South Africa
👉 Explore Mellon Educate’s education and literacy work

Every year, thousands of volunteers travel to South Africa to take part in something extraordinary.

It’s called the Building Blitz, a week where ordinary people come together to build and improve schools, transform communities, and see first-hand the impact they can have.

If you’ve ever considered volunteering abroad, this is what the experience is really like.

In South Africa, 81% of children aged 9–10 cannot read for meaning, highlighting the urgent need for improved education and literacy support.

What is the Building Blitz?

The Building Blitz is a large-scale volunteer programme in South Africa run by Mellon Educate, where teams work together over the course of a week to build schools and improve educational facilities in under-resourced communities.

It’s fast-paced, hands-on, and unlike anything most people have experienced before.

In just a few days, significant school infrastructure can be delivered and upgraded, something that would typically take months.

What Do Volunteers Actually Do?

One of the biggest misconceptions about volunteering abroad is that you need experience.

You don’t.

Volunteers take part in:

• Bricklaying and basic construction
• Painting and finishing classrooms
• Working as part of a team on-site
• Supporting logistics and coordination

Everything is guided and supported. What matters most is your willingness to get involved.

Who Can Take Part?

The Building Blitz is open to:

• Individuals
• Corporate teams
• Students and young people
• First-time volunteers

No construction background is needed, just energy, commitment, and a desire to make a difference.

The Real Impact

This isn’t just about building.

It’s about creating environments where children can learn, grow, and thrive.

Through the Building Blitz, volunteers help deliver:

• Safe, functional school infrastructure
• Classrooms that support learning and development
• Spaces where literacy programmes can take place

In South Africa, a large percentage of children struggle to read for meaning by the age of 10. Without intervention, this impacts their entire future.

By helping to build and improve schools, volunteers are contributing to something much bigger, giving children the opportunity to access education, develop literacy skills, and unlock their potential.

This is long-term, sustainable impact that goes far beyond the week on site.

Why People Keep Coming Back

Ask anyone who has taken part, and they’ll tell you the same thing, it stays with you.

There’s something powerful about:

• Seeing the direct impact of your work
• Being part of a team working towards a shared goal
• Experiencing a completely different perspective on the world

For many, one trip turns into several.

Is Volunteering in South Africa Worth It?

It’s a fair question and an important one.

The answer lies in impact.

When done properly, volunteering in South Africa:

• Delivers real, measurable change
• Supports structured, long-term programmes
• Benefits both communities and volunteers

The Building Blitz is designed to ensure that every effort contributes to something lasting.

Ready to Get Involved?

If you’ve been thinking about volunteering abroad, this is your opportunity to be part of something meaningful.

👉 Join the Building Blitz 2026
👉 Explore Volunteer Opportunities with Mellon Educate
👉 Learn About Our Work in South Africa

Transition year students taking part in the one-week Mellon Educate transition year programme arrive in South Africa. During the week students will be doing construction work, working within our established literacy programme and working directly one on one with the children. TY students will get real-world experience while having fun and, most importantly, helping others!

Nutun CX announces groundbreaking corporate social responsibility initiative: ‘One Agent – One Child’ to tackle literacy: “81% of children under the age of ten cannot read for meaning in any language.”

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa emphasised in his State of the Nation address that access to quality education for all is the most powerful instrument to eradicate poverty. Aligned with that, South Africa has seen a dramatic increase in businesses seeking to uplift a country grappling with load shedding, debt, inflation and unemployment through its steadfast dedication to education.

Nutun CX, a prominent provider of financial services, customer experience, and credit rehabilitation in the BPO industry, has introduced a new corporate social responsibility initiative, ‘One Agent – One Child’. Under this program, Nutun CX will support the teaching of one South African child to improve their reading skills, for each agent they employ.

“Looking at the size of the business now, we have 3000 agents, that’s 3000 children we will help to read through the training and placement of Community Literacy Tutors at partner schools. Consider the impact; One agent helping one child, but as we improve the reading abilities of young children, we also provide opportunity and upskilling to unemployed youth from communities where the schools are placed. This initiative impacts one child, one family and one community, because that child will change so many lives over time,” explains Babalwa Mpulampula – Mellon Educate Board Member.

By launching the initiative, the company builds upon its commitment to the inspirational charity Mellon Educate, supporting its School Building Program and school-based “Literacy Hubs” including community-based “Literacy Tutors Program.”

“A structured literacy hour is invaluable once a week between tutor and learner. The feedback from teachers, and from senior management in the schools, where the programme is run is consistent and speaks to the change in the children when they go back into the classroom, the confidence they exude. As they strengthen their emerging literacy skills, they participate more in the classroom, learning more as a result while inspiring their peers. That creates the opportunity for them to learn so much more,” added Babalwa Mpulampula

Nutun CX also contributed 100,000 Euros (R1.8 million) to Mellon Educate, to build more schools in under-resourced communities, providing vital infrastructure and resources for underprivileged children. In November 2022, Nutun’s dedicated team joined forces with 250 global volunteers to support its remarkable school-building initiative at Yomelela Primary and Injongo Primary, where renovations and construction of classrooms, toilets, kitchens, and playgrounds took place.

“It is evident that education is our passion – the cornerstone of a prosperous and inclusive society,” remarked Paul Swainson, Nutun CX CEO. “For South Africa to thrive in 2023 and beyond, it is crucial that we prioritise access to quality education for all citizens, regardless of their socioeconomic background.”

“Education is the foundation upon which we can build a prosperous future for South Africa,” stated John Watling, CEO of Nutun. “I am leading an organisation that is making a huge impact and purpose. Social responsibility extends beyond financial success and encompasses the well-being of shareholders, suppliers, partners, and employees. Particularly for the younger generation entering the workforce, it is vital for them to align with a company whose values they can be proud of and witness being put into action every day.”

“At Nutun, we have spent well over half a century with a clear goal – to create economic sustainability in the communities we serve through digitally enabled business services that introduce simplicity, ensure stability, and enhance effectiveness,” added Swainson.

The BPO industry presents immense potential for large-scale employment opportunities for young South Africans in the coming decade. The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) and other strategic public, private and social partners, has set a target of creating between 250 000 and 500 000 cumulative new jobs in the sector by 2030.

Nutun CX continues to forge stronger relationships with key charities such as Mellon Educate, The Retail Trust, Pennies, and others. These partnerships highlight the organization’s dedication to supporting and uplifting communities not only through financial contributions but also through active involvement and engagement.

Niall Mellon, CEO of Mellon Educate, recently visited Nutun CX’s centre in Durban to launch the ‘One Agent – One Child’ initiative. “The wind is currently in the sails for ESG initiatives, with businesses acknowledging that it is crucial not only for their success but also for the betterment of society and the planet,” he said.

Mellon Educate Building Blitz is Back!

On this historic 20th anniversary of our charity’s Building Blitz week, we are returning to Cape Town’s largest township Khayelitsha, which is an area of huge deprivation where our help is sorely needed! With a population of around 2.4m, approximately 75% of households live in shacks made mostly of tin and corrugated metal and 1 in 3 people must walk 200m or more just to access water.

Mellon Educate volunteers are coming back to help them once again, this time by undertaking much needed work at Yomelela Primary School and Injongo Primary School, jointly attended by 2,310 children. At Yomelela Primary School we will spend the week constructing 8 classrooms, 1 x Grade R classroom, a literacy hub, a kitchen, a playground and 2 covered shelters. We will also refurbish 3 x Grade R classrooms. Two kilometres away at Injongo Primary School, we will build 4 x new Grade R classrooms (one to become a literacy hub), a new kitchen with canopy, refurbish an existing Grade R classroom and a special needs classroom. It will take an enormous amount of hard work to complete these 2 projects in just 1 week but also hugely satisfying to know that once the work is done, not only will we have given 2,310 children the chance of a better brighter future but we will also take home with us a remarkable achievement – one that all volunteers should be extremely proud of.

The determination and compassion shown by the Mellon Educate volunteers in transforming Yomelela and Injongo Primary Schools in just one week is nothing short of inspiring. Their commitment to building a brighter, more equitable future for the children of Khayelitsha speaks volumes about the power of community, resilience, and hope.

While this initiative is focused on improving educational infrastructure, it is a potent reminder that true well-being extends beyond access to classrooms. It encompasses a holistic approach—where mental, physical, and emotional health are given the attention they deserve. For these children, clean water, nutritious food, and proper sanitation are all integral to helping them thrive, just as much as new classrooms and learning hubs. This broader view of well-being includes oral health, which is often overlooked but fundamentally important.

Just as students need safe environments to learn, people everywhere need access to trusted professionals who can care for their dental health. In places where resources are available, staying proactive about oral care can make a significant difference in quality of life. Services like the best gum contouring henderson has to offer provide more than cosmetic benefits—they support long-term dental health, confidence, and comfort. As global communities work to uplift those in need, it’s just as crucial that individuals at home remain attentive to their own health journeys, ensuring they, too, can meet life’s challenges with resilience and a smile.

Mellon Educate UK is proud to be one of this year’s London to Brighton Cycle Ride charities. This is the UK’s largest multi-charity event of its kind, with over 4,000 participants. We know that many of you are keen cyclists, for whom 55 miles is a doddle, but this event is open to riders of all abilities and promises to be a great day out for everyone.

We have 25 places, and it is first-come, first-served, so please sign up as soon as possible! If you can’t sign-up, please join our waiting list by sending us an email and we will try and secure a place for you.

The entry cost is £55 plus a booking fee (which includes a high quality Mellon Educate cycling jersey), and you will need to set up your own Just Giving page linked to the charity. https://justgiving.com

NOTE: When you register and are asked to select an option for: I expect to complete the 55 miles in… *, please select the “I am part of a group option” so that all Mellon Riders can start together.

We ask that you set a minimum fundraising target of £199, all of which will go to support the Mellon Educate Literacy Programme in our South African classrooms Video Link. If you have signed up for the November 2022 Blitz your fundraising can go towards the 2022 Building Blitz.

Every rider will receive a Mellon Educate cycling jersey, by post, to wear on the day. Make your own way to the start at Clapham Common, off Nightingale Walk, Clapham SW4 9AH. There will be a staggered start between 06:00-10:30.

Participants will be emailed their allocated start time a few weeks before the event. There is full support for the length of the ride with water stops, first aid, mechanical support etc, and a buffet lunch awaits you at the finish line.

!! Very important!! once you have registered, please book your ride home.  The train has very limited cycle places so buses are laid on, but you must book in good time to get a seat for you and your bike. Once you have confirmed your place on the ride, you’ll be able to book a space on one of the coaches returning from Brighton to Clapham Common.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact one of us.  We can’t wait to see you on the ride!

With very best wishes

Dominique, Jeremy & Julia

Londonbrightoncycle FAQs 

Mellon Educate

Justgiving.com

The Mellon Educate Literacy Programme is a one-to-one reading programme for children in Mellon Educate classrooms who are struggling to learn to read and write.  Many of these children don’t have parents who can read to them or who don’t speak the languages in which the children are learning to read.  Mellon Educate trains young adult tutors to work with the most needy of children to give them a better start in life.  All funds raised will be going towards the Literacy programme in South Africa.

Niall Mellon and the Mellon Educate charity are saddened to hear of the passing of Archbishop Desmond Tutu. We wish to express our deepest sympathy to Leah and all of Archbishop Tutus family on the death of such an amazing individual. We were honoured to have Archbishop Desmond Tutu address volunteers on the 2008 building blitz.

We are thrilled to announce that the Mellon Educate Building Blitz is back in our calendar. It will be 20 years since Niall Mellon first brought together the first volunteers to help build houses in the townships of Cape Town. What a journey it has been! Since 2013 the charity has built/renovated 32 schools, providing over 50,000 young children with a better chance at life. We are building towards educational programmes throughout Africa that will benefit over 100,000 primary school kids. Volunteers are key to the work of Mellon Educate and we hope you can help us celebrate the 20th anniversary of Mellon Educate by volunteering for the 2022 Mellon Educate Blitz in Cape Town. Places may be limited so book your place early in order to avoid disappointment!

NOVEMBER 12TH – 19TH 2022!

Whilst we were unable to hold a volunteer building blitz in 2021 due to Covid 19, thankfully due to the generosity of a private donor and our ongoing relationship with the Western Cape Education Dept our construction team, led once again by Theo DeVilliers, have been able to build 11 classrooms along with toilet facilities and play areas for High School and Leiden Avenue Primary Schoolin the townships of Delft on the outskirts of Cape Town. Over 2400 pupils will benefit from these infrastructural improvements, and the new literacy hub will launch a brief media and consumer literacy strand using the as a live example of online payout claims, with the programme rolling out in January 2022. Below is a list of the complete works to be carried out at the 2 schools and REMEMBER IN 2022 YOU WILL BE BACK TO CONTINUE THE BUILDING!!

Leiden High School (1271 learners)

• Build 5 x classrooms to be used by the Grade8.
• 1 x New Toilet block.
• 2 x 18m x 18m Canopy’s:
• One to be built with seating next to the kitchen and used as a dining area by all children
• Second canopy to be erected between the old classrooms and used for assembly and shelter against the elements.
• Fence a large new food garden next to the kitchen. This will help supply the kitchen with vegetables.

Leiden Avenue Primary School (1162 learners)

• Build 4 new classrooms to replace the temporary classrooms.
• Grade R’s = 2 x Classrooms. This will also replace temporary classrooms.
• Build one Literacy hub classroom.
• Erect a 18m x 18m Canopy with seating in the centre of all the buildings
• Build a new play area and jungle gym for the children.
• Place paving and plant new trees in the courtyard between the classrooms.

Once again, we find ourselves in the very sad position of having to cancel our 2021 Building Blitz.  We are of course bitterly disappointed and we know you, our incredible volunteers must be feeling the same. It has been a tough year for everyone, Covid-19 has brought many difficult times for lots of people and yet Mellon Educate have lots to be grateful for.  You, our volunteers stepped up to the mark once again despite the tough year thanks to your support we were delighted to announce the completion of our adapted Covid-19 Building Blitz project at Wesbank No.1 Primary School.

As you all know we held our very first Fitblitz fundraiser in 2020 and what an amazing success it was. It gained incredible momentum from the outset and an outstanding €50,000 was raised. Fitblitz 2021 is just around the corner and we are asking you to join in the fun again! Encourage your family and friends to join up with you and create a bit of competition between you! It is a wonderful way to get your daily exercise in and help us to continue with our projects on the ground in South Africa.

Walk / Run / Wheel /Swim 100km with us during the month of May to help support the vital work of Mellon Educate in South Africa.

It’s only 3km or 4000 steps a day to help equip a child in Africa with an essential tool for life; Education.

Every year our volunteers create new inspiring stories of possibility for children deprived of opportunity in their lives. Let’s make 2021 another amazing year where we can all do something to make a difference to these poor children’s lives.

As the global pandemic has once again caused the cancellation of the building blitz in 2021 our requirements for funding to ensure our education team continues is greater than ever. The funding raised from Fitblitz will be used to support this vital work.

Join participants from as far afield as Germany and the USA and together we can get fit and raise funds for the work of Mellon Educate at this vital time.

We have wonderful prizes in store for you including a Playstation 5, Large Screen TV, Free place on our 2022 Building Blitz week!

We are thrilled to share with you all that we have now completed our adapted Covid-19 Building Blitz project at Wesbank No.1 Primary School!  The 2020 Building Blitz project was completed and only possible because of you, our volunteers. The official handover took place on Friday 26^th February and Mellon Educate handed over Foundation Phase classrooms, Grade R Block, Toilets, Kitchens and a Playground!  What a wonderful testament to you all. None of this would have been possible without the ongoing support from our volunteers and you were all sorely missed by our team and the beneficiaries on Handover Day.

Your continued support is vital to Mellon Educate in order for us to continue making this wonderful progress.

It is a great success story and an example of us all working together even in these challenging times to make things happen and allow Mellon Educate to continue to inspire and improve the lives of these very poor children.

VENUE: SUNNINGDALE GOLF CLUB
DATE: OCTOBER 14TH 2021

Dear Friend,

Thank you for your interest in Mellon Educate and for your support as we continue our work as a positive force for change in the education sector in South Africa.

Given all the obstacles thrown at us during the past year, we are even more proud of what we have achieved during this time. Not only have we ‘pivoted’ to meet the needs of children and their families in the township communities we serve, by providing food parcels for over 250,000, but we have also continued to honour our commitment to education by helping with the renovation of a primary school near Khayelitsha impacting 1100 children, as well as completing our first commercial school building project in partnership with the Western Cape Government. In short, we’ve learnt some valuable lessons in challenging times, not least that things can change at any time, but our wins have more than compensated!

To date Mellon Educate has, with the help of over 26,000 volunteers, built/improved 32 schools, thereby helping 50,000 children to a better brighter future. To build on this success, we proudly invite you to our Mellon Educate Golf Day Fundraiser 2021.

Taking place on Thursday 14th October at the prestigious Sunningdale Golf Club we are organising a very special day during which we hope to raise much-needed funds to support our Mellon Educate Literacy Programme, which is making a real difference to our primary school children, helping them to reach their full potential.

Join us and a host of sporting talent for a fantastic day’s golf, where you and your guests will play with an international sports icon to compete as a team of 4 on Sunningdale’s historic Old Course. The day includes a relaxed champagne breakfast, complimentary use of practice facilities, followed by a 9am shotgun start. On course team and individual skills prizes to be won, to support the inevitable competitive spirit that will no doubt be settled at the 19th hole!

A traditional Club lunch will be served, during which some of our sports stars will keep you entertained with amusing and inspiring tales of winning, losing and learning in professional sport. An auction offering the chance to win some really special prizes and one-off experiences will follow.

Places are limited so please take a look at the booking form in this e-mail for more information and to secure your participation in what promises to be both a fun and very memorable day.

We do hope you can join us!
Best wishes
Deborah Morris
Head of UK Development – Mellon Educate
07468 481 991

Usually at this time of year volunteers from Ireland, the UK and the USA are heading off for Mellon Educate’s annual Building Blitz. That is not possible this year due to Covid-19 but the charity’s vital work still continues in some of South Africa’s poorest communities. Thousands of volunteers have taken part in Mellon Educate building blitzes benefiting tens of thousands school children in South Africa; forging lifelong friendships along the way.

This November we are asking volunteers to share #BlitzMemories on social media.

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Many of you may recall when we reported in May 2019, that Mellon Educate were appointed to the Western Cape Educational Departments Schools Construction Framework Panel, as approved contractors. We are delighted to now share with you photographs and video (to follow) of the most recently completed school at Malmesbury, which is situated about 70km north east of Cape Town and has 1355 students.

Despite Covid19, Theo, Josh and all at Mellon Educate have continued the fantastic work of our charity. Our team constructed 16 classrooms over two storeys and the project also includes toilet/ablution facilities and play areas for the children. This is a very important project for the charity as it is the first (hopefully of many) commercial school building projects which provides vital funding towards our many educational programmes.

While we are all so disappointed not to be travelling to Cape Town this November we are continuing our efforts on the ground, and while we do not have all of our wonderful volunteers building with us, we are endeavouring to continue with our school building programme on a smaller scale. We will have more exciting news on this soon![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_media_grid grid_id=”vc_gid:1605025302682-15425925-165f-1″ include=”32452,32462,32460,32459,32458,32457,32455,32454,32453″][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Thanks to everyone who have registered for the Mellon Educate FitBlitz. So far over 350 people have joined the FitBlitz in helping raise much need funds for education programmes in South Africa. Fundraisers have been helping the work of Mellon Educate by collectively walking, running, or wheeling 10,000km this August; the distance between Dublin, via London to Cape Town.

It is not too late to join and it means so much to us to have your continued support.  As an incentive to keep your efforts being rewarded, Mellon Educate are giving away a place in the Building Blitz 2021. Yes, you heard right!  For those who raise €250 you will be entered into a draw and for those who raise €500, you will have 3 entries in the draw to win a place on next year’s Blitz.  This is to show our sincere gratitude and appreciation – as you know the tremendous work supporting our educational programmes in South Africa, simply can’t happen without you.

Wishing you the best of luck in your FitBlitz challenge and of course in the draw which will take place in September.

Walk / Run / Wheel 100km with us during the month of August to help support the vital work of Mellon Educate in South Africa.

JOIN THE FIBLITZ 

Are you up for the Challenge? Of course you are… It’s only 3km or 4000 steps a day to help equip a child in Africa with an essential tool for life; Education.

Every year our volunteers create new inspiring stories of possibility for children deprived of opportunity in their lives.
This was only possible because ordinary people took selfless action to do something truly extraordinary, lend a helping hand on our annual ‘building blitz’ in South Africa.

As the global pandemic has caused the cancellation of the building blitz in 2020 our requirements for funding to ensure our education team continues is greater than ever. The funding raised from Fitblitz will be used to support this vital work.

Why not get friends or family to run or walk with you? Join participants from as far afield as Germany and the USA and together we can get fit and raise funds for the work of Mellon Educate at this vital time.

What is the situation with Covid-19 and the lockdown at the moment?
by Babalwa – Mellon Educate South Africa, Charity Director & Senior Community Liaison Officer

Nationally we are standing at 97402 positive cases with 51608 recoveries. So far 1930 people have died. Western Cape is the hardest hit by the corona virus with about 57% of infections, as a result becomes the epicentre. According to the experts WC is nearing its peak. Our townships, like Khayelitsha have high rates of infections and are regarded as hotspots. We are on day 88, level 3 of lockdown. The easing out of most businesses during lockdown will assist the economy of the country but put more risk to most vulnerable people. Social distancing is still difficult to practice in informal settlements and public transport. Lockdown was necessary to flatten the curve but people had to go back to work to be able live. Most companies closed their businesses and left people without jobs. We are happy that SA is authorized the use of decamethasone to help serious infected people. This will minimise death toll.

How are people in the townships managing?
by Benni, Maths Specialist

All the learners that attend our schools are coming out of townships such as Mfuleni, Enkululekweni, Happy Valley and Khayelitsha. We have thousands of families living shanty dwellings for shacks that are built in very close proximity to one another and in many cases some households have as many as 10 people living together making social distancing very difficult.

Almost all of the people are dependent on a social grant that is not enough to feed the families. Most people are unemployed. With the prevalence of Covid-19 and the state of lockdown it was impossible for those people who do have jobs to supplement this meagre grant. This resulted in a condition where people became desperate for food and basic necessities. The sheer number of people staying in the townships, makes it difficult to get access to health facilities. Many people that has comorbidities like HIV and AIDS and TB, cannot access their medication. The availability of health care is under tremendous pressure and hence we find that people don’t get their medication timeously. In addition the people that were tested for the virus, had to wait in some cases up to 10 days for their results. This gives the virus the opportunity to spread for the 10 days if a person is tested positive. The people are traumatised because of lack of access to basic health care facilities and a lack municipal service delivery that are also under pressure.

In many cases there are backyard dwellers on the same property, they had to use the same ablution facilities and taps, infection can spread rapidly. Thousands of people do not have access to facial masks and hand sanitizer because of the lack of money. They are obviously not educated on how to wear these masks properly and sanitize or wash their hands regularly and properly. This obviously exacerbated the spreading of the virus. When the people are lucky enough to get food parcels distributed by the government and NGOs, the people rushed to the scene and they do not maintain social distance as they are told to do, because of their desperation. The queues are very long. Not all the people get food parcels as there are just not enough to meet the need of the struggling people. The government promised a covid-19 grants to bring temporary relief to the struggling people, but only a small fraction of the people received this grant. This further fuels the anger of the struggling people.

Khayelitsha, where Mellon educate are servicing 6 schools and delivered 1000s of food parcels, has currently more than 5700 positive cases of the Covid-19 virus (as at 21 June 2020). This number is growing at an exponential trend daily. Khayelitsha also has the highest number of Covid-19 cases within the Metro of Cape Town. Currently the fear of the virus is spreading much faster than the virus itself. They put the people in this Township in a panic situation. Today the principals of all the schools in Khayelitsha met today discuss this grim situation and currently all schools has been closed by the communities in Khayelitsha until further notice. The main request is that all schools need to be kept clean and sanitized properly, because many teachers and learners are now falling victim to this pandemic.

How are schools coping?
by Denise, Literacy and Language Specialist

At this point all Mellon Educate schools have received personal protective equipment for learners and educators from the government. Schools are however concerned that 2 masks per learner will be enough as they are not sure if learners will take proper care of mask, however they have educated the Gr 7 and Gr 12 learners about taking care of masks, social distancing during orientation sessions.

The staged opening of schools helped with putting plans in place before the learners arrive. The SMT had a week of planning before the whole school complement of educators arrived. It also allowed educators to orientate themselves with the new school environment. It also created an opportunity for educators to share their fears and concerns with each other before learners arrived. They also appreciate the check -ins from Mellon Educate team around their well-being. The Mellon educate team also encouraged educators to allow time for learners to talk about how they are coping.

All schools have detailed plans in place, and this certainly serves as a coping mechanism because educators and learners know what is expected of them. Schools adapted a platoon system where learners are being taught on a rotational basis.

Frequent sanitizing and daily screening are taking place at all schools. Despite the detail plans in place for ensuring the safety of learners and educators, many educators are still anxious. They try remaining optimistic and do the best they can under the circumstances.

The Department of Education has trimmed the curriculum to accommodate for time lost. Teaching and learning are taking place and schools had a 95% attendance of learners and educators.

Unfortunately, protest by some members of the community in Khayelitsha has forced some schools in the area to close for the week.

What have Mellon Educate been doing?
by Bernadette, Strategic Partnerships

As soon as the closure of schools was announced on 15th March we immediately shifted our core focus from education to humanitarian support. Knowing that the majority of learners across our partner schools depend on school for their daily meals, this became our first point of departure and so we adapted the daily school feeding programme to the distribution of food parcels. With the food parcels, we could reach both the learners and their families at home. We are fortunate that we were able to work through our amazing Walking Bus parents to ensure we not only distributed food but that we also educated families on safe hygiene practices. A week later a national lockdown was announced and at that point panic about safety, job security and day-to-day survival, not just for our learners but the communities where they live, evolved. Responding to this even greater need, Niall Mellon sent a call out to our volunteers globally to support our Food Parcel campaign, and thanks to the incredible generosity of our donors, partners and volunteers we have been able to deliver thousands of food parcels and meals across the Western Cape, by responding to the many vulnerable communities including refugee communities. Throughout lockdown, our team have support educators across our schools with education material. South Africa is now at level 3, schools are re-opening slowly and our Education Team are gradually turning their main focus back to supporting schools in curriculum delivery as well as learner safety in the school environment. This does not mean that the demand for food is over, if anything it is growing, and we are striving to do what we can to continue this support where the greatest need lies.

How is this funded?
by Bernadette, Strategic Partnerships

The food shortage crisis hit the most vulnerable communities in a devastating way across the world. It was the same here in South Africa, the fallout was literally over-night. It’s a very humbling experience to be able to say, that thanks to the efforts and donations from our international volunteers also overnight, we were able to hit the ground running! There was no pause FOR THOUGHT, they ‘just did’. This reliable dedication and goodwill from all our volunteers has enabled us to distribute thousands of food parcels in the 108 days of lockdown, turning no request away so far. As I write this we are packing hundreds of parcels for families living in informal housing structures, close to our partner schools in Khayelitsha, while at the same time we are sorting through next week’s requests . In addition to the financial contribution of our volunteers, we have had amazing support from our partners and donors both in Ireland, the UK and South Africa. The need is enormous, so we are continually working on forging partnerships with local businesses such as Pick’n’Pay and community organisations to sustain the programme for as long as we can.

How do the community kitchens work?
by Ronel, Psychological & Social Support

Since the Outbreak of the Covid 19 pandemic and the lockdown,the communities that we work in have been struggling to survive. a Large percentage of people are working in an informal setting where they receive a daily wage for example, domestic workers and gardeners and are now unemployed. The lockdown has caused a loss of income. The already struggling community are hungry. Existing nutritional kitchens within the areas have been under strain to provide food and new nutritional kitchens have been started by the community for the community. Community nutritional kitchen are mostly run by women in the community on a voluntary basis from their own small income and circle of friends mostly in the same situation. Needless to say, it is difficult to sustain. With our footprint in the community, Mellon Educate received requests and heard about these nutritional kitchens in need and with the help of donors we provide food assistance. A few women will come together and start cooking soup or a meal per day out of their own pocket providing their immediate community with food. They feed mostly children and what is left are given to adults. People will get to know the time that the meal are ready and would bring their own container from home to receive their meal. As Mellon we advise on safety measures to prevent Covid 19. It is clear to see how these rules are obeyed. Receivers are wearing masks and keeping a social distance most nutritional kitchens also provide sanitizer for cleansing of hands. Nutritional kitchens estimates the need within their community and usually cook one or two big pots of food and the recipients range around 150 or more people at a time. Some kitchens provide porridge in the morning as well as a meal later in the day. People are extremely grateful and appreciate the meals. Mellon Educates food donations extends the number servings as well as the amount that these ladies can provide per day. If we do not provide food, the Nutritional kitchens would be under strain of survival as the economic impact of Covid 19 are felt by the woman donating. I feel honoured to work with these ladies who are offering their time and financial contributions toward this.

What is next for the ME team in South Africa?
by Holly, Partnership & Programme Development

Mellon Educate team have worked tirelessly throughout the lockdown, adapting to a new normal and finding alternative and effective ways to continue to support our schools. With the young child always in mind, every effort has been made to eliminate the many additional obstacles the Covid-19 pandemic has brought for our learners, educators and school community in general.

The development of educational, hygiene safety resources and videos and making use of WhatsApp to share with educators and parents, proved a great success as it reached so many. The Food Parcel Drive as well as supporting of Food Kitchens helped us to reached both the learner and their family during this difficult time, as falling sick to malnutrition is a great concern.

With the gradual phased opening of schools which began in June, Mellon Educate Team are embracing a new modus operandi: select school visits to adhere to government policy, individual screens will be carried by team members for meetings face-to-face, additional virtual support and meetings via Microsoft Teams which government has implemented in schools, a hygiene and safety campaign to bring and instill ongoing awareness amongst learners.

The need for food and nutrition continues and we are committed to navigating both our education support as well as keep our children fed.

PLEASE DONATE
€20/£15 CAN FEED A FAMILY FOR A MONTH!

Extract from the South African Chamber of Commerce website

Equally impactful has been the work of Mellon Educate, an Irish-based African development charity. Their South African focus has switched from construction and education projects to food distribution.  Mellon Educate has received donations from project volunteers in the UK, Ireland and South Africa but it is mindful that many companies are already engaged in their own initiatives. Deborah Morris (Head of UK Development), however, reports that corporates have been supporting their work: “We’ve received funds from the Antonio Carluccio Foundation in the UK.  Locally we have received support from Pick ‘n Pay, Shoprite and Zari Sparkling Grape Juice.”

Local liaison and reliable partnerships are critical, says Deborah: “We prioritise working in partnership wherever possible. We do this to ensure wide and fair distribution of our food parcels, additionally to ensure we are not doubling up on distributions already made by other NGOs.” Recently, while coordinating with a tech-driven NGO exploring innovative solutions, Deborah was introduced to the operational models of , which excel at leveraging decentralized systems to manage large-scale user engagement efficiently. Inspired by this, she is now exploring ways to apply similar technology to improve coordination and transparency within the food distribution network, ensuring resources reach those who need them most without duplication.

Mellon Educate’s approach and impact is best summed up by Mvuyisi Damba, Principal at Sobambisana Primary School in the Western Cape, whose staff are working with the charity on food drives: “Teamwork makes dream work, which is testament to the morale and energy levels of the team during the distribution process.” 

Dear Niall,

Around the world, the closure of schools as a result of Covid-19 hos disrupted society as we know it. Obviously this also includes education, and social support as well.

The notional lockdown in South Africa hos worsened the socioeconomic conditions that were already causing hunger in many communities, and supporting residents in need is o mammoth task. While the Western Cope Government hos responded by releasing funding for school feeding and community nutrition support, the scale of the need is huge.

The work of organisations like Mellon Educate hos been vital in responding to this need.

I would like to express my thanks to yourself, the Mellon Educate staff and dedicated volunteers for demonstrating once again a clear commitment lo schools and communities in our province. I especially appreciate the fundraising efforts of individuals and groups to supplement the funding released by the Board in order to distribute food parcels to those in desperate need.

As we reopen schools in a phased manner, the support of school communities and charitable organisations will become more important than ever.

Mellon Educate’s continued commitment to support us in the ‘back to school’ process is welcome news, and greatly appreciated.

This is a difficult time for us all, but working together, we will get through it. Thank you for your partnership on this journey.

Regards,

Debbie Schäfer, MPP
Minister of Education, Western Cape

Mellon Educate deliver food parcels to the local community in Manzothombo Secondary School during the Covid-19 lockdown. Last year, 300 Mellon Educate volunteers from across Ireland and the UK helped to build works for Mfuleni Primary School and Manzothombo Secondary School. We continue to work helping communities during these difficult times.

Message from Niall Mellon

Dear Volunteer

We hope that you are safe and well during this unprecedented and challenging time in all of our lives.  Our sincerest good wishes for a speedy recovery to any of you, or your family members, who have contracted Corona virus and our heartfelt, deepest sympathies to those of you who have lost loved ones because of this virus.

It is with a heavy heart that I write to inform you that we have no alternative but to cancel our November 2020 Mellon Educate Building Blitz.  There are many important considerations we have taken into account, including the financial risk in making substantial pre-payments to airlines, hotels and other vital suppliers.  However, our absolute #1 MAIN concern is your personal good health and wellbeing, as well as that of the Mellon staff and the local township communities.  We simply cannot predict what will happen in six months’ time, and therefore the best decision needs to be taken now, for all concerned.

We do understand that you will be incredibly disappointed, as we know how much you look forward to the trip and how hard you fundraise to be able to participate and make a difference to so many lives.  The truth is, that during this crisis, your help is needed now more than ever before.

We are sure you will have seen the harrowing footage from the townships where people living in the most inhumane conditions are in lock down.  You will recognise only too well, the communities your involvement has already made such a difference to.  The love and hope you brought with you, left smiles and happiness on the faces of the children who met you and who are so desperate to escape poverty and build better lives for themselves.

The good news is that you can still help our children by supporting us during 2020.  Our charity’s priority is to keep all of our education programmes running in the schools we support and to continue to work with the communities you know so well.  As you know, the children at our schools depend on all of us to keep their hopes and dreams alive.

As well as keeping our education initiatives operational, our local team are currently engaged in the collection and distribution of food parcels within our school’s communities, which for many children and their families are their only source of nutritional intake.  This week, we were humbled to receive a phone call from the Government’s National Response Committee to say we have been recognised as a key partner on the ground responding to the crisis proactively.  This is a very special accolade for our charity.

In these unprecedented times, we are making an unprecedented special request to each of you.  We are asking you to please support us during this crisis by donating and fundraising as much as you can to us in 2020 separately to any other monies you may raise for the November 2021 building blitz.

The impact of Corona Virus has no borders rich or poor anywhere in the world.  When life does return to normal in our countries, it will undoubtedly take much longer in the developing world and those who have the least, will suffer the most.  The global unity of Corona Virus will make a lot more people sympathetic to your request for a donation and they will respect your efforts to help alleviate suffering.

With this help we will be able to offer our immediate support to those who need it most, at a time when hunger, fear, illness and uncertainty about the future has never been more real.  Of course, we do understand that the current crisis may well be affecting you, your family and your business and should this be the case then your financial support may not be possible.  You and your family’s emotional and physical wellbeing must always be a priority.

We will follow up this letter next week, with further details including up to date information regarding your funds raised to date.

As a charity working in Africa, we have not allowed the frightening prevalence of HIV, TB and other diseases in the communities we help to deter us, or to diminish our desire to put a roof over a child’s head or to provide that child with a quality education and similarly we will not allow our present Covid19 health crisis to undo your incredible efforts to date.

The heroic medical staff working on the front line in all of our countries have earned our respect and admiration.  They share the same selfless spirit as each of you, as you fundraise tirelessly to help those in need.  These are children and communities that you did not have to help, but whom you wanted to, and for this reason you deservedly take your place amongst a special group of people that our world and societies admire and respect so much.

I am confident the values and spirit of our family of volunteers will continue to inspire many during this crisis.

Thank you as always, for your incredible support.

Your biggest and most appreciative fan.

Niall

During the coronavirus pandemic Mellon Educate will be providing food parcels for vulnerable families in South Africa. Volunteers will be working with the Mellon Educate team in order to distribute much needed supplies to those most at risk in the townships.

Highlights from the 2019 Mellon Educate Building Blitz was held in Mfuleni primary and Manzomthimbo Secondary School in Cape Town. Three hundred volunteers helped build 11 new classrooms, 1 playground, 3 covered shelters, 1 library, 2 ablution block, 1 outdoor gym and improving sports facilities impacting the quality of education for over 2900 children.

Highlights from the 2019 Mellon Educate Teaching Blitz. Qualified teachers from the UK & Ireland traveled to work alongside local teachers in the schools supported by Mellon Educate in the townships of Cape Town.

Our 20th June Mellon Educate UK Gala Fundraiser surpassed all expectations judging from the countless messages of praise and thanks received from so many of the 300+ guests who attended the black tie event at the Hurlingham Club.

Guests heard heartfelt words of gratitude from Niall Mellon and inspiring insights from Cape Town-based education team member Holly Hayes and Buthle Mthethwe who has been appointed Mellon Educate’s literacy programme ambassador and whose role will be to encourage children in their love of reading and writing.

The live auction was a huge success thanks to Jonny’s Gould’s inimitable style and professionalism and overall almost £650,000 was raised, which will help fund Mellon Educate’s pilot literacy programme being launched in local schools within the next couple of months, in collaboration with highly regarded corporates such as Pick ‘n Pay. Guests ended their evening on the dance floor with an exciting performance from the Brand New Heavies followed by the coolest electronic grooves from super DJ Ed Adoo.

Thanks to all who came, donated prizes or won them or who made pledges; and for all our wonderful supporters who do so much to help our mission.

With under 5 months to go before we’ll be touching down in Cape Town, we are delighted to share the projects you will be working on in November!

Our heroic volunteers will be building in two schools in the township of Wallacedene, which is located in the Kraaifontein region, North East of Cape Town.

Home to Irene Grootboom, the South African Housing Rights Activist, Wallacedene is no stranger to the work of the Mellon Volunteers. Some of our more seasoned veterans will remember working in Wallacedene on the house building blitzes in 2009, 2010 and 2012. Between volunteers and our own construction firm Mellon have built almost 6,000 homes in Wallacedene. Many of the students in these 2 schools live in those houses, so this is a great way of completing the circle! For anyone who volunteered with us in 2012, you will remember the hall of Enkululekweni Primary School as that is where Mellon Educate was officially launched, this year we will return to where our journey began as an education charity.

The schools and work to be carried out is as follows:

Enkululekweni Primary School, with 1320 learners we will build 2 Grade R classrooms, a kitchen, a covered shelter, a playground including a sand pit and a road to teach the children how to cross safely. Three children have been knocked down by cars in the last few months, so the opportunity to learn about road safety in a secure environment is crucial. Check Out Enkululekweni Primary School on Google Earth.

Just as ensuring children have a safe environment to learn and play is vital, keeping vehicles in good working order is equally important for protecting everyone on the road. Regular maintenance and timely repairs prevent accidents caused by brake failures, tire issues, or engine problems, helping drivers avoid dangerous situations before they happen. Safety starts with attention to detail, both on school grounds and behind the wheel.

For reliable care, professional car repair services provide the expertise and tools needed to keep vehicles running smoothly. From routine inspections to complex mechanical fixes, trained technicians ensure every component functions correctly. In the middle of your maintenance routine, trusting a service such as Blue Wrench guarantees that vehicles are road-ready, reducing the risk of breakdowns or collisions that could otherwise have serious consequences.

Ultimately, protecting drivers, passengers, and pedestrians alike requires proactive care. Regular servicing and repairs extend the life of vehicles and promote peace of mind, knowing that each journey is as safe as possible. Just as schools prioritize the safety of their learners, responsible car ownership ensures roads stay secure for everyone.

Hector Peterson is a High School with 1460 learners and here we will build, 12 classrooms, including a room for a social worker, a kitchen, a toilet block, a covered shelter, an out-door gym and create 2 sports fields on ground that we have managed to reclaim from the City of Cape Town for the school. Check out Hector Peterson High School on Google Earth.

Of course, our magical touches such as our art work will be used all over the schools to give those beautifully bright finishing touches that Mellon Educate has become so well known for.

I’m also delighted to let you know that we have negotiated again with the Western Cape Government for them to financially support the building work of our volunteers, the figure will be in the region of R2.500,000. This support from the Western Cape Government is testament to our efficacy as an education charity.

We can’t do any of this work without you, our volunteers. Education changes lives, but so does the Building Blitz week!

If you haven’t registered already, but have been considering doing something truly amazing this year SIGN UP HERE.

Enkululakweni Primary School – 1320 Learners

Hector Peterson High School – 1460 Learners

We were thrilled to see so many veteran volunteers as well as new faces for the inaugural London Mellon Educate Gala Dinner. There were over 300 guests at the event and the auction raised approximately £100,000. One hundred percent of funds will go towards our education programme in South Africa.

We heard speeches from Niall Mellon and Namhla Siboya, an inspirational learner form Usasazu High School. Although it was a celebration of our London community, it was wonderful to have so many members of the Mellon Educate family from Ireland and South Africa with us.

Thanks to all who came, donated prizes or made pledges; and for all the support that we receive throughout the year from our wonderful supporters!

Building Blitz 2018 is only days away! It promises to be a truly life-changing experience during which we will complete our most ambitious school building blitz ever, to include the major extension and overhaul of 2 primary schools and 1 secondary school in the largest township on the Cape Flats.

“Khayelitsha”, which literally means “new home” in the Xhosa language, is a vibrant area but also one of huge deprivation where our help is sorely needed! With a population of approximately 500,000, over half of the 118,000 households live in shacks made mostly of tin and corrugated metal and 1 in 3 people has to walk 200 metres or more just to access water. Khayelitsha is also a very youthful township – just 7% of the township’s population is above the age of 50 and more than 40% of its residents are below age the of 19. The need therefore, for the township’s schools to provide a good solid education with adequate facilities and teaching and learning resources was never more important. It is key to the future success of Khayelitsha’s young people helping to break the cycle of poverty and reduce the likelihood of unemployment and crime. There are currently only 30 primary schools and 18 senior schools serving the township and our mission this week is to completely transform 3 of them!

At Sosebenza Primary School we will create 7 classrooms, a playground and sheltered social area, benefitting 1,350 pupils. At Sobambisana Primary School we will build a science laboratory, classroom, kitchen and playground, thereby vastly improving facilities for the 1,200 children who currently attend this school. Last year’s Blitz saw Mellon Educate volunteers complete works at 2 Khayelitsha Primary Schools, one of which was Ummangaliso Primary School. This year we will be helping to improve facilities at its senior school Usasazo High School, which is currently attended by 1,100 pupils. In this school we will create 8 classrooms, a kitchen, sports field, sheltered social area and outdoor gym. It will take an enormous amount of hard work to complete these 3 separate projects in just 1 week but also hugely satisfying to know that once the work is done, not only will we have given over 3,650 children the chance of a better brighter future but we will also take home with us a remarkable achievement.

Volunteer fundraising is not just about building classrooms or physically enhancing schools. As an education charity, our goal must also be to improve the level of sustainable results in these schools. Once the building work has been completed, our top team of specialist educators begin to mentor the principal and teachers of these schools. This 2 to 3 year Mellon Way programme runs in every community school our charity partners with. The Mellon Way is delivered by a hand-picked team of South Africa’s finest principals and teachers with proven track records, who train and mentor the school’s management and teaching staff. They provide teaching staff with the essential tools and skills to significantly improve the pupil’s results. Mathematics and literacy are core learning areas, and by mentoring the teachers, extending the school day and introducing holiday school, we maximise the learners exposure to reading, writing and arithmetic. Mellon Educate is all about putting into place the tools that give these schools a long-term sustainable future. We equip these schools with the knowledge and skill set to achieve a pass rate that they never dreamed was possible. Most of these schools have a fail rate of as high as 90%. In every school that we work with, we are committed to achieving a pass rate of 75%. We are extremely proud to see that our efforts continue to be recognised and rewarded! In just over 3 years we’re seeing very real progress and a number of our schools have received awards from the Western Cape Education Department and we are committed to ensure that more schools develop and thrive to enjoy similar success. Concordia High School, currently attended by 1,100 learners and based in the Eastern Cape, recently received first prizes in every category of its local Knysna Municipality Library Book Club Competition including English reading, Xhosa reading and debate. Considering Mellon Educate only began to work with this struggling school earlier this year, it is a real testimony to the charity’s first class education support strategies led by John Curran and Derick Peterson, voted SA best principal in 2013.

There are over 285 volunteers travelling to Cape Town this year including over 90 new volunteers from Ireland, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Australia and South Africa who join our multinational Mellon Educate family members from Ireland, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Australia, Germany, Holland and Spain. Our 2017 School Building Blitz really is an incredible collective effort from all corners of the world. 11 days and counting…

The briefing meeting for the 2017 Mellon Educate building blitz took place yesterday. A packed house full of excitement and energy as our volunteers eagerly await the forthcoming trip to South Africa. Here’s just a sample of the action. For the latest updates, follow the charity on facebook.

written by volunteer teacher Clare Lawlor

Sunday 30th July
Team Silversands arrived in Cape Town. All were thrilled with the lovely musical welcome we received from the Mellon Educate team and especially from the children and the principal of Ummangaliso. The children sang and danced and the excitement was palpable.

Monday 31st July
An early alarm got everyone up and moving and everyone left for their schools together for an 8.00 am start. The journey that first day was very shocking as the terrible reality of the townships outside Cape Town revealed itself. Silversands is a High School situated in Barndale, Kuilsriver. It has 930 Students and a total staff of 39 of which 29 are teachers. When we arrived at the school, we were so happy to meet our Mellon team, Chantel and Verity, with whom we had been in contact before our arrival. The school prefects stood in a guard of honour to welcome us and to accompany us in to the Hall where the whole school, staff and students, were assembled to meet us.

On day one, Chantel and Verity very helpfully had prepared an activity for us to assist us in moving around and orienting ourselves in the school. We had to visit different classes and talk to teachers and students to obtain information about the school for a questionnaire. This was a lovely way of becoming acquainted with the students and teachers and most enjoyable. Some of us were a bit more competitive than others and Chantel and Verity awarded a prize to our great team leader, Caitriona. Later in the day we met and talked to the Principal, Joy, the deputy principal, Sam and the senior management team.

Tuesday 1st August
On Tuesday the Silversands team dispersed among the 8th and 9th grades in Maths, Literacy and Creative Arts (Music). Already the learning was beginning both in terms of approaches, behavioural attitudes, management issues within and out of the classroom, student engagement and affirmation and fun. The students were very responsive and excited about our visit and already we were beginning to forge friendly relations with the wonderful staff of Silversands High School. On Tuesday the team were brought to visit the home of one of the 11th grade students. This was an exceptional experience for each and every one of us. We were very honoured to be given the opportunity to meet and talk to our student, her mother and her younger sister.

These were fine and wonderful people, who, in the face of extraordinarily difficult social, economic, emotional and practical challenges, have instilled in themselves and each other the importance of the goal of education. The sense of maturity, philosophical thought and the depth of engagement in the value of education was a predominant theme on our visit and we were literally blown away by what we heard and what we saw. This is a common, if not universal, theme that we have found since our arrival in Cape Town since Sunday. There is a real sense among some of the generation who emerged from the period of Apartheid of the importance of passing on a high level of education to enable their children to build better lives.

Mellon Educate’s inaugural teaching blitz is underway with 50 qualified teachers from the UK & Ireland travelling to South Africa to pair up with local teaching staff in Cape Town’s informal township of Khayelitsha. The shared learning programme is a continuation of the charity’s school development initiative. With 10 schools recently rebuilt or renovated, the focus this week is in the classroom, education professionals volunteering to exchange teaching skills and methodology to better improve the standards of education through a mutual sharing of knowledge and experience to benefit school children and teachers alike.

Watch local TV news clip from SABC.

This year we are back in Khayelitsha, Cape Town’s largest township. A sprawling mass of shacks situated just a stone’s throw from the wealthy suburbs that are home to South Africa’s rich and famous. In November 2017, we will return to work under the banner of Mellon Educate and this time we are going for the hat-trick!

We will be sending the Mellon volunteers to regenerate not one, not two but THREE sites;
Usasazu High School, Sosebenza Primary and Sobambisana Primary Schools.

Education is paramount to creating sustainable development and giving children the best possible start in life. Creating a safe environment for children to learn in is the foundation for this. Usasazu High School provides an education for 1,300 learners, the majority of whom come from one of last years blitz schools, Ummangaliso, Sosebenza for 1,000 learners and Sobambisana for 1,300 learners.

None of this would be possible without the hard work of YOU, our volunteers. We can’t wait to roll up our sleeves and get stuck in with familiar and fresh faces for another amazing week in November. We are very close to closing the blitz for this year so if you have not signed up and wish to experience the unique magic of the blitz week, please get in touch as soon as possible. We are raring to go and hope you are too!

Usasazu Secondary School – 1,300 learners

Sosebenza Primary School – 1,000 learners

Sobambisana Primary School – 1,300 learners

Festive colour spreads the streets,

Towns and cities that never sleep,

Windows filled with lights and boxes

Advertised by trampolining foxes-

Adverts compete for the best story of joy,

A family song,

A red-cheeked boy

All wrapped up holding a gadget or gift,

When after Xmas we are encouraged to sift

Through sales

And rails

And Boxing Day’s best

When the real saving is a day of rest.

The real present, a smile or a laugh

Delivered by your loved one

Or that favourite aunt

Who every year, may fall asleep

And be the one who sits and weeps

At Comedy re-runs of Only Fools

And silently snuffles on the corner stool

As her mince pie slips, down her lap

During that little pre evening nap.

Charades, monopoly, cheese boards, port

The table cleared as we all resort

To a comfortable position –

A Christmas film?

A Soap’s big day storyline,

Ending in doom.

Our temptation to round off with a faint whiff of misery

As fictional characters

Go through storylines of bigomy

When really it would be nice to see

Some humour of a family

Who hasn’t been thwarted by the soap-world baddy

And instead is celebrated for being a hard working daddy.

That’s the story we want to share,

A real life moment of the good that is there,

For whilst we get gripped as a nation by pretend,

There is a real danger that may not end in a big finale or ratings snub,

A magazine front page and

“Get out of my pub!”

There’s a real family,

Without any tree

Sitting in shelter,

About to lose their mammy,

There is a real child who has to learn the lesson

That Christmas for them is not about presents.

It’s just another day

To come together and hope

that someone is coming

And Santa’s no joke –

That there is some magic,

A power of good

That once a year flies to every neighborhood

Gifting more than manufactured toys,

It’s that little bit of sparkle we hear about called Joy.

We sing it in hymns,

We write it in cards,

We see it lit up and it doesn’t feel hard

To say it,

To feel it

Or accept it is real,

So try and send it

So others can steal

A moment of happy stuff

A glimpse or a taste

Of the real point of Christmas

And our human race –

To Give

And Receive

With no expectation,

Just because we are working as one global nation

That shouldn’t be wrapped up in one big day

Or taking 0% finance to make it okay,

Because there’s so many of us

And so more with less,

Lining cold streets

In un-lit depths of all our communities,

So, look down and stop,

At the pair of shoes poking out a cardboard box,

Or the young woman holding a cup,

It wasn’t her fault,

She may not have messed up,

She is a person,

Who came into this world –

Just like we all did, she was a girl –

She could be your daughter, your sister, your friend,

She could be anywhere,

Because the world doesn’t end…

It keeps going round,

It’s one big connection,

It’s just up to us as to what we direction,

We follow and take

What magic we make,

So celebrate Christmas kindness,

Like we do at Mellon Educate.

The return of the blitz.
One week on –
The smiling faces of children not gone.
The smell of site life,
Still live and fresh,
As you close your eyes, sit and reflect.

Sitting here now with a strong cup of tea,
Knowing there is something much bigger than me,
bigger than you,
the collective us – which achieved something that saw bricks rise from the dust.
Whatever your part as a blitz volunteer,
the resonance and emotions are all very clear –
as you try to attempt to share, what was done,
in between the day job and supermarket run.

The noise of our life, of cars, tubes, TV
and knowing we have left a different reality.
Where families sit,
under shack roofs,
dimly lit walkways and dangerous routes
that take them to work,
to go buy their tea,
that return them from school – the place they feel free.

We felt the freedom that education can bring,
we saw the hope,
we heard them sing – and dance and laugh and exude such unity,
When knowing they return,
each day to poverty.

It hasn’t gone away.
Their Christmas won’t bare gifts,
yet the life and the love of the children lift
you up when you’re feeling those post blitz blues,
because you know, there’s more we can do.
And their waiting,
their working
for a better chance to be,
in a place that is not what we all see;
Of congested roads, folk rushing through days,
grabbing a Starbucks
avoiding your gaze,
buying a bargain mod con on Black Friday,
A quick pint in the pub,
or some weekly Pilates.

You come back and try to ‘fit it all in’
When actually, you don’t know where to begin,
to tell people about this amazing place,
where hope it etched onto every face
and senses are opened
and people connect
despite the deep danger,
despite the neglect.

Township life may be hard and unfair,
and through time we strive to not see it there,
yet inside exists the jewel of humanity,
that one word, which conquers all life profanity’s
that one thing we all strive to receive
regardless of religion,
or race,
we believe
that if we can give people a road to equality,
it can change the cycles of conflict & economy,
it can get people talking and connecting again,
learning and striving and evolving Man.
And as anyone who has returned from this Blitz will know,
there’s only one word to describe that glow,
that urges you to dust off the helmets and gloves,
spread the word for next year;
It’s a Blitz called ‘Love’.

The foundations were set,
the plans were laid,
the weeks of momentum caused no delays,
The plethora of names arriving on site,
each sporting helmets,
all bushy and bright.
The anticipation of building site life took hold
Sleeves were rolled up
and out came the bold.
The banter began as soon as dawn broke,
with firsties being privy to a fair few jokes-
to our dear volunteer, who went off at the larks,
to find a bucket, to go and catch sparks!
And to another dear soul who spent an hour, like a saint,
to search in the cabin for a tin of dry paint!
The humour and heart has powered us through,
the skills of our foreman and volunteers too,
who may never have plastered, or blocked or skimmed
and yet chain ganged and powered the build to the end.
The paint is drying, the playgrounds shining,
the laughter on site and shack visits lying within the forefront of all of our minds,
the children we’ve seen, sing dance and shine.
Savouring the moments, seeing their joy,
knowing we’re part of each girl and each boy,
reaching one step closer into the light,
which started when a man – had passion and foresight,
to bring a collective, together, and see,
what the future of these children could be,
if we built them houses and then built them schools,
to change the system,
challenge the fools,
who may believe there is a them and us,
which we all know – as we step on that bus,
does not exist and should not be true –
for each of these children are the same as you.
They came into the world with innocent hearts,
so let us continue to make them a part
of the future change,
a global community,
where education means a thing of unity.
To each and every volunteer,
your time to reflect is nearly here,
we thank you – so get ready to save the date,
for 2017 with us at Mellon Educate.

Experience the energy, vibrancy and colour of the Mellon Educate annual building blitz. Sit back and enjoy our photo collage of volunteers hard at work doing something to give back.

Follow blitz live

” Volunteering is one of the best things you can do to feel good and make a difference to someone else’s life.”

It may sound obvious, but when one of our veteran volunteers, Kathleen Trolan spoke about why she does the Blitz with Mellon Educate – it summarised exactly the power and purpose of volunteering.
However you chose to volunteer to give up your time, to help another or shape a campaign, you will begin to grow a real addiction for doing something for nothing.
So many people have spoken about how the Building Blitz is time away from their ‘normal’ work, business & every day life and that the gratification of joining a collective of other people, who simply want to create something great, create a change and sustain a sense of community, is compelling.

Amber Davies, one of our youngest volunteers at 17 this year and out on the blitz with her father – Andrew Davies, who is veteran volunteer, eloquently described what has stood out for her the most so far:

” Arriving at the airport, it was astounding to see the welcome from the children and how immaculate they were in their school uniforms, knowing after the shack visit, that they have nothing at home. It’s really sad, but it is amazing that we are here helping them to get opportunities to get out of the situation they experience.
Working on site, I’ve turned my hand to most things, including plastering and concreting – getting to know people has felt so inspiring and knowing that everyone is here to help do something good. We are all so motivated to get it done and because of this, it gets done quicker.”

The power of doing something for a cause provides a lot of reflection, for everyone. The motivation, described, the feeling of togetherness and support….. it makes one think about how when you remove the transaction of ‘being paid’ or having to produce results for a different kind of gain, just how much more people give. Every volunteer spoken to so far, talks about the feeling and the results of giving. Whether it be a first time volunteer, or indeed, one of our 10 year plus veteran volunteers, their willingness to take themselves out of their comfort zones and do, see and think extraordinary things, things which are heart-warming and heart-breaking, really solidify the notion that nothing carries the potential for change than acts of human kindness.

Alan O’ Rafferty – a volunteer in his 11th year with us on the Building Blitz, applauded the flexibility and ability of people to handle change. “At a moments notice, the schedule may change and people of all levels of experience may have to stop what they are doing and pick up tools elsewhere – however, the various parts of the build have seamlessly fitted together and the planning has provided a strong foundation for people to move from role to role on site. It’s incredible to see that it always goes right because there is a collective of people working for the benefit of others and not themselves. This kind of adaptability could go a long way in the real world!”

And so, when we look at why we do the Building Blitz, we not only focus on the end game – the education for a nation, the opportunity to move lives into a place of prosperity and opportunity, but the shared sense of pride. Pride from the community and pride from the volunteers who have entered that community to work and “see where that work is going .”

“Despite seeing children living in conditions so small, so bare, they are happy – which is the weirdest thing of all.” (Brian Howards). Perhaps when you see this through giving eyes – it is not a surprise that many volunteers consider how we may take things for granted and that these people are “relying upon themselves” (volunteer). They all carry pride and a strength of joy that is evident when they speak to us, take us into their homes, sing and dance for us – they give and they give unconditionally. This marries the core reason why people volunteer and this unison to give and give back provides a helping hand.

” Human kindness has never weakened the stamina or softened the fiber of a free people. A nation does not have to be cruel to be tough.” Franklin D. Roosevelt

You come and paint the school and we provide a second coat of passion.

This was today’s quote from the head of maths at Happy Valley School – part of a school visit undertaken by some of the volunteers today. It was heartwarming to see the joy the children have for learning and their complete love for simply being at school.

However, equal to this was the dedication and work ethic spoken about from the teaching staff who are part of the MERP programme (Mellon Educate Results Programme). It was very clear that to just teach was not enough. To be a teacher for the private sector means results, results which aren’t necessarily driven by government run schools because ‘the pay cheque is coming regardless.’ A very gregarious science teacher confirmed this by admitting that before she joined Happy Valley, she went in, taught a class and went home. Now, she starts early, creates her lessons to suit every individual – and regardless of their levels, ensures their education need is right for them. She gives more time and gets more from doing so.

When you combine this kind of commitment to teaching and promoting the value of learning, not just for a child, but for a whole community to see – you are achieving success, because it is measured and there is a need to put out what has been invested in.

As Mellon Educate continue to deliver both the MERP and build new schools like on both our sites this year, it has been very clear that the bricks and mortar can only impress the future of the children if there is excellent teaching within them. It has been very striking how the level of respect, the desire to learn and the gratitude for receiving an education fairs compared to home. We experience an aim to produce targets and a syllabus back at home that is repeated year after year….children miss out on the inventiveness, resources and imagination of a teachers true desire to transfer knowledge and whilst there are exceptional teachers and schools, they is a distinct rise in teachers leaving and pupils disengaging.

Many teachers at home entered their profession out of their love for learning and inspiring young minds. Their subject matters being the driving force to create the next generation of scientists, sportsman, entrepreneurs or artists. If that professional becomes squeezed by targets and outputs, or children are made to fit one level, one way of thinking, then surely their enthusiasm and love to teach becomes slightly crushed and education becomes a thing of routine, over a desire to seek knowledge?

What has been profoundly obvious here in the Mellon Educate schools is that teachers work creatively and are active in how they shape the children’s learning. Of course it is measured and great results are expected, but it is a shared effort, with the children, building a community that invests in education because it can change lives, shape the world and improve, inspire and infect the next generation to want it too.

Entering the township of Khayletisha is not something that can be described in a word or a story. It’s a sensory overload in smell, sight and sound – all of which are difficult to savour. The cramped conditions of housing, tins shacks and devastating sanitation, only pinpoint the initial sight. Deeper inside, there is a distinct taste of survival, resting on sandy foundations, no lighting, unsuitable for any kind of being – especially human and thousands of whom are children. These children witness daily struggle, with or without their parents. Many see loved ones suffering from illnesses, such as TB and unable to work or leave township life. Many become adjusted to this way of life, sharing spaces the size of your garden shed with up to 6 or 7 other people. And yet, they smile.

These children attend the schools that Mellon Educate volunteers are working on over this incredible week. These children invited us, along with their families into their homes, to share what they return to every day after school. An education can provide them with a way out – a way of changing their life and opportunity and gradually, with time, a collective sense of responsibility.

Seeing something in it’s raw form makes you realise what we are all doing this for. The overwhelming power of the truth and reality can become desensitised when we think we have ‘seen it all before’ or that someone else is out there fixing it. As we know only too well at Mellon Educate, if we don’t come, it’s very likely, no one else will. So we do – for 15 years we have kept coming, to see the change unfold, to be a part of supporting these children through their learning, through the dust and dirt and extreme poverty that lies beside them every night. In these 15 years, many of us had have heard or been part of initiatives for new housing, new schools – yet no matter whether it be the first time or the tenth building blitz, for an individual to come face to face with a child’s reality and touch what they will be returning to once again this evening whilst we return to our hotel rooms and a buffet, is life changing.

If every person touched the home of a child in this level of need, we would come closer to eradicating poverty entirely. As we empower them, through education, let’s hope we can empower others like ourselves to be active in participating in a global community – a community that gets things done and makes a smile last a lifetime.

Tomorrow – let’s see how our volunteers have mastered new skills and the stories from within the building sites!

Our team are on the ground in Cape Town making final preparations for the arrival of 270 volunteers this weekend who have travelled from across the World to help build better lives through better education for impoverished communities in South Africa. Next week, the 5th-12th November, volunteers, together with local tradespeople, will rebuild and renovated the two primary schools of Ummangaliso and Kuyasa in Khayelitsha.

Planning has been ongoing for months now and we are proud to present some of the site plans that will materialise over the coming days. We love it when a plan comes together. Thank you everyone for helping to make dreams a reality for thousands of children in the future.

And so, the countdown begins…..

The packing commences and the boots are in.

In the words of one of our long-term volunteer veterans, Ken Kingston;

‘After months of planning it’s time to make this project a reality, Khayletisha 2016!
13 classrooms, kitchen, toilet block and a playground – 270 volunteers, 2 sites, 1 week—- no pressure!’

(more…)

Veteran Mellon Educate volunteer Hughie McGuinness participated this weekend at the Ring of Kerry Charity Cycle wearing his custom designed yellow jersey! (more…)

Khayelitsha was the location of our biggest ever blitz in 2008, when some 2,000 volunteers mucked in to build hundreds of houses in Cape Town’s largest township, a sprawling mass of shanty shacks just a stone’s throw from the wealthy suburbs home to South Africa’s rich and famous. Ahead of our return in November 2016 under the banner of Mellon Educate, coordinators hosted a compliant fundraiser with local partners to equip classrooms and stock the shared tool library, and the event doubled as an open briefing for residents and volunteers. We now go back to work on two sites in Khayelitsha with the same focus on practical builds and long-term education support.

(more…)

A Change is as Good as a Rest!

Our volunteers don’t rest on their laurels, and neither does their charity. In anticipation of building blitz 2016, Mellon Educate is pleased to unveil their latest website design to their volunteers and charity supporters.

Change is a constant. The shape and direction of the charity has changed over the years to meet new challenges of communities in Africa. Niall Mellon Township Trust housed 125,000 homeless people in South Africa in 25,000 purpose-built homes constructed by some 22,000 volunteers in the decade starting 2002. In 2012, the township trust transitioned to primary education, building & refurbishing schools for children deprived of the basic human right to education.

MellonEducate.com was launched to showcase the Mellon Educate Results Programme, our 10-year initiative to provide better education and local school governance collaboration for 100,000 children. To date, our volunteers have built 10 schools and helped 10,000 with access to better school facilities and improved school performance benchmarks.

As the charity embarks on another incredible journey this November with some 300 volunteers from the UK, Ireland, USA and around the world, our new charity website is designed to better connect with friends of Mellon Educate, to tell our story and share our vision for a better future for Africa.

The new website is designed for an age of experience. We have concentrated on ease-of-use and accessibility. The website is mobile-friendly, clearly signposted and visually rich. Less is more. We want you to be able to quickly find what you want to know and do the good that you want to do. We hope you like the new site and that your feedback will help us make it even better.

Township Trust

Mellon Legacy

New Website

260 volunteers transformed Ukhanyo primary school in just 7 days, travelling to South Africa and toiling tirelessly dawn to dusk to complete our latest charity building project.

Ukhanyo primary is situated in the impoverished Cape Town township of Masiphumelele. 1,650 local children aged from 4 to 12 years old attend the school. Until November 2015, pupils and teachers endured harsh conditions terribly unconducive for learning. Classrooms were severely dilapidated, canteen and extra-curricular facilities practically non-existent, not to mention the wash-rooms and standard of personal hygiene provided! Volunteers joined the collective effort from Germany, Netherlands, Venezuela, America, Wales, Scotland, England & Ireland, 80 brand new first-timers contributing incredible energy, camaraderie and team-spirit. (more…)