How SchoolLIFT is supporting schools in Hout Bay

With youth unemployment on the rise, a new crowdfunding platform called SchoolLIFT is stepping in to help schools and education NGOs raise funds for much-needed improvements.

Founder David Elliot said the ultimate goal of SchoolLIFT is to "transform access to quality education".

"SchoolLIFT promises to be a significant player in the realm of educational development. Instead of once-off interventions, we offer a scalable, replicable solution," Mr Elliot said.

The idea for SchoolLIFT started when the former school governing body chairperson, Richard Tait, invited Mr Elliot, a local business advisor, to help with a community sports project. 

"This initial collaboration blossomed into a broader vision for sustainable school growth when a vision workshop was convened alongside staff members," Mr Elliot said.

"Together, they redefined the school's vision of excellence and pinpointed key improvement projects needing funding — a monumental challenge experienced by institutions nationwide. Thus, the idea for a tailored crowdfunding platform specifically for schools began to take shape."

According to Mr Elliot, SchoolLIFT aims to extend their benefits to underprivileged areas, offering essential tools to schools and NGOs.

"This initiative empowers local communities to drive a high standard of education and tackle systemic inequality. Education is a key driver of economic opportunity,” Mr Elliot said.

Kronendal Primary School in Hout Bay will be the first pilot project, with plans to expand to schools in Hangberg and Imizamo Yethu

Nathan Levendal, Kronendal Primary School principal, said the new SchoolLIFT initiative will give schools the chance to access the "tools, strategies, and equipment to deliver quality education to every learner at every school".

"That's why SchoolLIFT is crucial, as many schools face financial challenges in accessing the resources they need. "SchoolLIFT aims to provide the means for schools to acquire the resources necessary to build schools of excellence," said Mr Levendal. 

He added that the initiative also aims to positively impact learning and teaching at the school and many other schools in the future.

At Kronendal, they held a strategic planning session to plot the way forward and explore ways to continue building a school of excellence that caters to the diverse communities of Hout Bay.

"We have now identified key projects focused on enhancing learner outcomes and have appointed project champions to drive the process. With guidance from our SchoolLIFT champion, we are plotting a route forward to realise the aims we set for ourselves," Mr Levendal said.

SchoolLIFT follows a simple five-step process:

• Schools or NGOs register and undergo a verification process.
• A local champion receives training through online videos.
• The champion conducts a one-hour staff workshop to define the school’s vision and select priority improvement projects.
• A pre-launch checklist ensures the campaign's successful implementation.
• Projects go live with a shareable crowdfunding link distributed via social media.

SchoolLIFT will be partnering with BackaBuddy during its Hout Bay pilot phase, with their official website set to launch soon.

Mr Elliot explained: "Although still in its infancy, the platform draws inspiration from numerous past successful campaigns from allied partners — tales of funding raised for school fees, teacher salaries, sports tours, and more."

Kronendal Primary will be launching its crowdfunding campaign next month, encouraging community participation and support. This initiative sets a precedent for future campaigns within the region, including plans to widen its scope to schools in Hangberg and IY by 2024.

"As the movement towards educational equity gains momentum, initiatives like SchoolLIFT are set to play a vital role in ensuring that all South African children have access to quality education, a key determinant of societal well-being," Mr Elliot said.

Residents and potential supporters who want to get involved can contribute directly to campaigns hosted on kronendalprimary.co.za.