SPIRIT EDUCATION FOUNDATION
Strong Starts, Stronger Futures
Spirit Education Foundation
Strong Starts, Stronger Futures
In the heart of Bonnievale’s Breede River Valley, the Spirit Early Childhood Development (ECD) Foundation is laying the cornerstone for lifelong learning. Since launching in 2024, this arm of the Spirit Foundation has served over 250 children between six months and five years at two vibrant campuses, Kapteintjies Dagsorg and Bonnie People. Each centre is more than just a school; it is a sanctuary where vulnerable children from farming communities and single-parent homes are nurtured through love, structure, and opportunity.
At the heart of the ECD curriculum lies Leer & Leef, a joyful and deliberate programme focused on early literacy, numeracy, and emotional development. Whether through storytelling, motor coordination exercises, or outdoor play, each activity is underpinned by care and intention. Structured days that include warm meals, nap time, and creative expression provide a rhythm of security and stimulation for growing minds.
Leaders like Lynn-Zay Witbooi at Kapteintjies and Lucille Fortuin at Bonnie People personify the Foundation’s ethos: teaching with heart. “We provide a strong foundation for learning and personal development,” says Lynn-Zay. For Lucille, it’s simple: “If I can teach good values just by being myself, these children will grow up to be the best they can be.”
Despite the daily challenges of limited resources, the Spirit Foundation ECD programme remains steadfast in its mission, propelled by donor support and deep community ties. Plans are already underway to introduce Grade R classes and expand services to reach even more children in need. “Our children deserve to start strong and stay strong,” says ECD programme manager Megan Taljaard. “That’s the foundation we’re building, one child at a time.”
One of the key fundraising initiatives helping to make that vision a reality is the Spirit Foundation Education programme’s Feet4Fees initiative. During this annual campaign, everyday heroes run, walk, or move for change. With the 2025 campaign now in full swing, supporters are lacing up across the country to raise funds that go directly toward covering school fees for Spirit scholars. Whether it’s 5km or 50km, every step helps unlock a brighter future for a deserving learner. Feet4Fees is a powerful reminder that transformation is a team effort and that everyone has a role to play in building a more equitable South Africa.
But the work of the Spirit Foundation extends far beyond early childhood. It continues through high school, university, and into the world beyond the classroom. Just ask alums like Maps Sinandile and Tahir Samie.
For Maps, a gifted creative raised on a military base, the Spirit Foundation opened doors that were once thought to be closed. Today, a senior graphic designer and founder of Noodle Design, Maps, reflects: “If it weren’t for Spirit, I wouldn’t have studied. They believed in me, supported me as a neurodivergent learner, and helped me find my rhythm. I owe them everything—from my bursary to designing their 30th anniversary logo.”
For Tahir, who captained Claremont High’s first rugby team and now works within the Spirit Invest Group, the impact was just as personal. “This bursary changed everything,” he says. “It gave me the financial freedom to attend my dream school and the support to thrive.” That support extended beyond academics to mentorship, leadership development, and ultimately, a professional path that brought him back full circle. “I now work for the group that funded my education. It’s more than a job; it’s a way to give back to the organisation that gave me everything.”
From strong starts in the Breede River Valley to success stories across the country, the Spirit Education Foundation continues to prove that when children are nurtured, supported, and believed in, there is no limit to their potential.
