Issued by Christina Teichmann on behalf of the FW de Klerk Foundation on 17/06/2025

On Monday, 9 June 2025, a delegation of the FW de Klerk Foundation, comprising of Chairperson Elita de Klerk and Deputy Chairperson Christina Teichmann, visited the Ottery campus of Christel House, a non-profit school offering no-fee education for students from some of Cape Town’s most under-resourced neighbourhoods.

Founded in 2001 by Christel DeHaan, a German-American Philanthropist, Christel House South Africa is dedicated to preparing graduates and communities to achieve upward economic mobility and break the cycle of poverty through education.

Adri Marais, CEO of Christel House South Africa, explains, “Under the motto from classroom to life, the school’s model is based on the conviction that providing quality education is often not enough given the difficult circumstances the learners experience at home, but that comprehensive long term support, nurturing every aspect of a child’s life – from the classroom to personal development and future career – can make all the difference.“

This means that besides a quality education, that has a strong focus on language and mathematics, learners at Christel House receive school uniforms, nutritious meals and have access to safe transport, counselling and medical services – at no fee.

Today, the school serves over 840 learners from Grade RR to 12 with 220 post matric learners, while also positively impacting more than 4000 parents and community members. A high Grade 12 pass rate of 95%, with a 64% Grade 12 Bachelor’s pass rate, as well as a 97% Grade RR to Grade12 year-to-year retention rate, are just a few indicators of the positive impact that this holistic approach has brought about. It can definitely serve as an inspiration to other schools in the country.

For more information on Christel House visit their website.