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A New Year's Gift of Hope

Paediatric Emergency Unit at Sebokeng Hospital.

Help2read

World Read Aloud Day (WRAD) takes place on February 5th each year, and this year The Star Foundation is celebrating with the exciting announcement of our partnership with 

. Each year, WRAD is dedicated to highlighting the importance of reading aloud and promoting literacy across all ages by encouraging people to share stories with others in schools, homes, and their communities. This aligns perfectly with Help2read’s mission of ending illiteracy in South Africa by fostering a love for reading and storytelling.

In 2021, the Progress in International Reading Study (PIRLS) revealed that 81% of Grade 4 learners in South Africa could not read for meaning in any language. The consequences of low literacy levels are profound, limiting children’s ability to progress through school and become youth who contribute positively to the communities in which they live and the country’s economy. Help2read is tacking this issue by providing one-on-one support to children in public schools who struggle to read. Through consistent literacy input, reading help and fun activities, children in the programme not only learn to read, they fall in love with reading.

We are proud to share that we will be funding Help2read’s inspiring work in Gauteng throughout 2025 by collaborating to bring the proven success of their well-established literacy programme to children in two under-resourced schools in Diepsloot and Refilwe. But that’s not all… The programme’s impact extends far beyond the classroom and provides solutions to critical challenges faced by South African communities which demand urgent and impactful action.

One such challenge is that of unemployment among South African youth, and particularly young, black women. A staggering 39.2% of this marginalised demographic could not find meaningful employment in 2024. Alongside their reading support projects, Help2read’s approach provides first work experiences for unemployed young women (aged 18-25) from the townships in which the schools are situated.

With The Star Foundation’s donation, Help2read will implement six inter-related projects throughout the year. You can find out more about these in “the Journey” tab. In an impressive whole-of-community approach, the programme is set to achieve the following objectives:

Improve literacy rates of 320+ primary school learners and lay the foundations of early literacy among 300+ children from Early Learning centres in the township communities where the schools are located.

Equip 23 young women with valuable work experience and both personal and professional development. At the end of the programme, these women will be equipped with the skills they need to find meaningful employment.

Strengthen community ties by engaging parents to join their children’s literacy journeys at home and through other collaborative initiatives.

Together with Help2read, we are thrilled to embark on an inspiring 11-month journey to strengthen community cohesion, empower the youth, and build the nation’s ability to read for meaning. Since its inception in 2005, Help2read has reached 420 schools, trained and employed 675 young people, and assisted 40 000 children with reading support.

Collaboration is central to tackling the literacy crisis in South Africa, and we at The Star Foundation are ready to play our part. Together with Help2read, it is our privilege to contribute to building a future filled with opportunity- one book, one child, one woman, and one community at a time. We hope you’ll follow our journey!

We are collaborating to bring successful literacy initiatives to children in two under-resourced schools in Diepsloot and Refilwe. This programme also addresses critical challenges in South African communities, making a significant impact.

Literacy Support Partnership

Qhubeka Charity

Qhubeka is a Nguni word that means “to progress,” or “to move forward.” The 

, moves people and communities forward with the simple act of assembling and distributing bicycles. In the face of extreme and persistent poverty, bicycles have the potential to change the lives of the most vulnerable communities in South Africa by helping people get where they need to go.

In South Africa, millions of scholars walk long distances to and from school every day along dusty roads, burdened by the weight of their books. For some, the daily journey on foot takes hours. This test of endurance consumes time, drains energy, and ultimately affects academic performance, leading to high levels of fatigue and alarming dropout rates from Grade 1 through Matric.

By partnering with Qhubeka Charity, The Star Foundation is changing this reality for 50 scholars in the Grade 9 class at Sefutswelo High School in Uitkyk, Northwest. Through a donation of R425,000, each scholar will receive a brand-new bicycle this February, along with spare parts for maintenance and a range of cycling accessories.

Because cycling is 3.5 times faster than walking, The Star Foundation’s bicycle donation will transform the daily commute to school for these learners. The new bicycles will not only reduce travel time and enable on-time arrival at school but will also ensure that scholars have more energy to focus on their studies, leading to better academic performance and greater participation in school activities.

Before receiving their bicycles, all 50 scholars will undergo a comprehensive training program conducted by Qhubeka Charity, through which they will learn how to ride their bicycles, use the accessories and spare parts to maintain them, and to follow the rules of the road. Following this training, each learner will take ownership of their new bicycle in a special distribution ceremony which is set to take place in February 2025.

Qhubeka Charity’s innovative “learn-to-earn” programme is designed to ensure that every bicycle distributed is not just donated as a gift, but as a reward for pledges made and fulfilled by each recipient. In exchange for their bicycles, each learner will sign a contract with commitments to enhance their school attendance and academic performance and to be accountable for the bicycle’s care and maintenance.

The journey doesn’t stop there. Beyond the classroom, Qhubeka Charity goes the extra mile by uplifting the whole community. Each bicycle is assembled locally in a dedicated facility, creating employment opportunities for people in the area where it operates. Additionally, Qhubeka trains local bicycle mechanics, equipping them with bicycle repair and basic business management skills. These mechanics will visit the school regularly to ensure the bicycles remain in use and are kept in peak condition.

As the 2025 school year begins, The Star Foundation is delighted to be empowering the Grade 9 class at Sefutswelo High School, as well as offering valuable skills development and employment opportunities to the local community of Uitkyk. We are excited to see how each bicycle will have its proud new owner pedaling towards a brighter future.

Building Futures

Jumping Kids

Elle was born with a congenital condition that affected her right leg from the knee down as well as Scoliosis, a medical condition in which a person's spine has an irregular curve in the coronal plane.

In 2014, when Elle was three years old, she underwent a through-knee amputation. In 2018 she successfully applied for assistance from the Jumping Kids Prosthetic Fund and was fitted with her first lower limb prosthetic device.

Despite living with a physical challenge, Elle is coping well when she is at her family home in Middelburg, and when she is at school in Ermelo pursuing academic excellence. She is an example of courage and determination to all who know her.

What is your favourite subject at school and why?

My favourite subject is Technology because I have a passion for building things.

What would you like to pursue as a career one day?

I would like to study to become a physiotherapist one day.

What types of sport and extracurricular activities are you involved in?

What do you hope to try with your new prosthetic sports blade?

I hope to be able to run better and faster on my prosthetic blade.

What is your message to children living with a physical challenge?

My message to other children living with physical challenges is to just keep going and always give your best.

January

Reach for a Dream

A simple act ignited hope for over 200 children! In December, The Star Foundation and the 

 did just that – bringing joy, hope and Christmas magic to over 200 children battling life-threatening illnesses. We hosted seven Christmas-themed Dream Clubs across 7 provinces in South Africa, creating memories for them and their families.

Launched in 2024, the Dream Club gives children a chance to escape hospital rooms and create extraordinary memories with their families. The initiative connects children on similar treatment journeys, offering them a space to share experiences, build hope and community.

For 36 years, Reach for a Dream has been granting children the courage to believe in a better tomorrow. Research shows that hope plays a crucial role in improving health and resilience and these Dream Clubs provided much-needed comfort and support during the festive season.

Thanks to our R100,000 donation, we helped create unforgettable experiences in seven cities. The children received Dream Club Kits, collected stickers and wrote about their special day. Each celebration featured Christmas crafts, cookie decorating and a visit from Santa Claus, with each child receiving a special gift and cherished photo.

A huge thank you to everyone who helped make this campaign a success. Together, we are spreading hope – one dream at a time!

Christmas 2024

"Thank you all so much for all that you did for us, we really do appreciate the support."

Surgeons for little lives

"We would like to thank you for your generous spirit in these extremely
challenging times."

Ladles of Love 

"Reach For a Dream Foundation would like to thank you and your organization for supporting the Foundation"

reach for a dream

"Thank you so much for everything. You and the Star Foundation made a huge difference."  Shane Peyper 

Wings of Inspiration Care Centre

"Once again, thank you to The Star Foundation for the meaningful donation made to the Hein Wagner Academy"

Fredrika Mansfeldt

"We are beyond grateful to receive this money, you have no idea how much this means to us!" 

Lambano Sanctuary

“We are speechless! What a spectacular way to start the new week. THANK YOU 

 for your amazing generosity and support. We are rolling up our sleeves - with this so many more surgeries have become possible!” – Project Flamingo

Project Flamingo

"Our deepest gratitude goes out to the Star Foundation for their generous donation"

Frida Hartley Shelter 

“Thank you to The Star Foundation for the wonderful contribution and making such a meaningful difference to the lives of these young people” 

Sherie de Wet 

“I would like to thank The Star Foundation for the wonderful work they are doing, and for the donation of medical supplies to HospiceWits”

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Help2read - Literacy Support Partnership

RAISED TO DATE

R369,720

Success Stories

Building Futures

R425,000 Raised

January

R50,000 Raised

Christmas 2024

R100,000 Raised

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Standing Together Against Cancer

A New Year's Gift of Hope

Paediatric Emergency Unit at Sebokeng Hospital.