Streetlight Schools aims to showcase a vision for how we can empower and holistically develop ALL children in South Africa, especially those from underserved communities. That’s why they launched a primary school in Jeppestown where learners – despite coming from single-parent homes, hijacked buildings, and a community marred by xenophobia, riots and crime – are creating aspirational, fun, beautiful, creative, thoughtful and sophisticated work.
They enable learners to reclaim joyful childhoods and develop deep self-confidence, life-long curiosity and be inspired and empowered with the skillsets and mindsets to imagine and attain any future.
Streetlight Schools was founded in 2013 by Melanie Smuts, who was inspired by the story of Judy, a young school girl who came from a home where her mother couldn’t afford to pay electricity, so she used the streetlight near her house to study and do her homework at night. Today, Judy is a graduate of Columbia University and a Mandela Rhodes Scholar. She recently bought her mother a new home. But it all started under that streetlight. At Streetlight Schools, they want to be that point of light for learners.
In 2016 Streetlight Schools launched its flagship school, Jeppe Park Primary, with 70 learners in Grades R to Grade 1. In 2019 they now have 260 learners spanning Grades R to 4 and will continue to add a grade per year until 2022, when they will have a full primary school of 500 learners from Grades R to 7. The majority of learners come from the Jeppe community, and learners are charged a modest 20% of the R22 000 required fee per learner (this covers school fees, aftercare, stationery, nutrition, extracurricular and uniforms). The school has never turned away a child simply because their family cannot afford to pay, furthermore, they offer care grocery packages to learners and families.
Jeppestown, Johannesburg, where the school is based, is one of the most unpredictable areas in terms of safety for family environments. The children at Jeppe Park Primary now have an in-house school social worker that does house visits to learners and their families to make sure a safe haven is being created within the Jeppestown environment.
The school has a staff of 60, who all reside in Jeppestown and close to Johannesburg CBD. Further employment has been created for the construction and expansion of the school, which is an eco-friendly building.
For more information, visit the website link below.