Christel House South Africa

18/09/2026

25 Years of Impact. A Legacy Still Changing Lives.

Earlier this month, 136 donors, partners, friends, colleagues, learners and alumni came together at The Westin Cape Town to celebrate a very special milestone: 25 years of Christel House South Africa.

It was an unforgettable evening filled with music, inspiring stories and incredible performances from our learners and alumni. More than a birthday celebration, it was an opportunity to reflect on how far we have come and celebrate the confidence, talent and potential within our Christel House community.

Behind every moment is the enduring vision of our late founder, Christel DeHaan. Twenty-five years after Christel House South Africa first opened its doors, her legacy continues to change lives by giving children access to education, opportunity and 19 years of holistic support, from their first years at school through to life after Matric.

Watch our 25th birthday highlights and relive some of the special moments from an evening we will never forget https://youtu.be/sR6tOKrQLuw?si=qoZjvo9_PYR-eGBs

To everyone who has been part of our journey over the past 25 years - thank you! This impact has been made possible by a community that continues to believe in the potential of our children.

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

17/09/2026

Big dreams start small!

Our Junior School was filled with future doctors, nurses, architects, paramedics, entrepreneurs and many more professionals as our learners dressed up for Career Day!

Hosted by our College & Careers Department, the day encouraged our young learners to start thinking about their futures, explore different career possibilities and, most importantly, dream big.

But they didn’t only dress for their dream careers, they also had the opportunity to meet and learn from professionals working in a variety of industries.

Our very own on-campus nurse, Sister Blessing, spoke to learners about her work in healthcare, while emergency paramedics gave an exciting presentation about their profession. Learners also heard from doctors, architects, hospitality professionals and others who shared insights into their careers, what their jobs involve and the journeys that led them there.

At Christel House South Africa, we believe career development can start long before High School. Giving children exposure to different professions from a young age helps broaden their understanding of what is possible and encourages them to connect their interests and talents with their dreams for the future.

A heartfelt thank you to every individual and company who gave their time to participate in our Career Day. By sharing your knowledge, experiences and career journeys, you helped our learners see new possibilities for their own futures.

Ncinci Ndiqala - Pty Ltd Pullman Cape Town Wetton Emergency and Training Services Sea Harvest Flash The Agents Garage

08/09/2026

Help our Next Gen learners reach the national stage

Our Next Gen programme gives students access to robotics, coding, Esports and other technology-focused opportunities, helping them develop the skills, confidence and experience they need to thrive in an increasingly digital world.

And this September, their hard work is taking them to the national stage!

Five learners from two of our robotics teams have qualified for the World Robot Olympiad South African National Competition happening in Gauteng this weekend, where they’ll put their innovation, problem-solving, teamwork and technical skills to the test.

Later this month, another five learners will travel to Gauteng for the Curro Clash LAN Grand Final, competing in the Minecraft Build Battles on 28 and 29 September.

For our students, these opportunities are about so much more than competing. They are a chance to travel, collaborate, challenge themselves and see that they belong in spaces where technology and innovation are shaping the future.

But getting to the national stage comes with real costs. Flights, accommodation, local transport, competition apparel, equipment and other expenses all need to be covered to make these opportunities possible.

You can help get them there.

Every contribution helps give our learners the tools, exposure and opportunities they need to compete, create and thrive.

Donate today via GivenGain: https://www.givengain.com/event/help-next-gen-learners-reach-the-national-stage-10753

07/09/2026

Celebrating 25 years of Christel House South Africa

What an incredible evening celebrating 25 years of Christel House South Africa!

On Friday, 4 September, our donors, partners, alumni, staff, board members, students and friends came together to celebrate how far we’ve come and the future we are building together.

The evening featured powerful alumni stories, spectacular performances by our Music, Art and Culture team, students and alumni, and the premiere of our From Classrooms to Life documentary. We also heard from Adri Marais, CEO of Christel House South Africa, and David Harris, President and CEO of Christel House International, who reflected on our journey, impact and the wider Christel House movement.

As we celebrated this milestone, we also remembered the extraordinary vision of our founder, Christel DeHaan, whose belief in the potential of every child started a movement that continues to change lives today.

A huge thank you to our MC, Africa Melane, our sponsors and partners, our dedicated staff who worked tirelessly behind the scenes, everyone who contributed to the evening, and every guest who generously supported us.

For 25 years, so many people have helped us give children a seat at the table of life. Thank you for being part of our story. Here’s to the next 25!

See all the images from the night here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Cu8mbVPH4/

07/09/2026

04/09/2026

From Classrooms to Life: Christel House South Africa

Today, we celebrate an incredible milestone: 25 years of Christel House South Africa!

As we come together with our donors, partners, friends, staff and supporters for our 25th birthday celebration and fundraising event, we’re reflecting on the thousands of lives, stories and moments that have shaped our journey since 2001. We also look back on the vision of our founder, the late Christel DeHaan and where we are going.

At today’s celebration, we’ll be showcasing our documentary, From Classrooms to Life: Christel House South Africa, which captures the heart of the Christel House SA mission and shows how education, combined with holistic, long-term support, can help children overcome barriers, realise their potential and build brighter futures.

Whether you’re joining us in person today or celebrating with us from afar, we invite you to watch the documentary and experience the stories behind our mission.

Watch From Classrooms to Life: Christel House South Africa on our YouTube channel here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKe_qxhEoDs

To everyone attending our celebration and fundraising event, thank you for being part of this special milestone and for believing in the potential of our students. Here’s to 25 years of impact, and to the many more lives we can transform together.

From Classrooms to Life: Christel House South Africa, focuses on th...

01/09/2026

Spring is in the Hair!

Spring is on its way, and our Junior School is welcoming the new season with a splash of colour and plenty of creativity!

Today’s theme is “Spring is in the Hair”, and our students and teachers have gone all out, decorating their hair with bright, colourful and wonderfully creative spring-inspired decorations. Our staff have also joined in the fun by dressing in bright colours to celebrate the start of a new season.

It’s been wonderful to see our campus filled with colour, smiles and excitement as we say goodbye to winter and welcome the warmer, brighter days ahead.

Happy Spring Day from Christel House South Africa!

28/08/2026

Inspiring our girls to dream bigger

As we close Women’s Month, we’re celebrating the women who help our girls see what is possible for their futures.

From the teachers, counsellors and staff they interact with every day, to our donors, mentors, professionals, Board members and alumni, every woman who shares her knowledge, experience and encouragement can help a young girl imagine a future bigger than she thought possible.

And we’re proud to see those possibilities becoming reality. Today, 95% of Christel House South Africa alumni are working, studying or doing both. Through our Youth Career Hub, we support students during their school years and for five years after matric as they navigate tertiary education, training and meaningful employment.

As our Career Development Manager, Louise de Marillac St. Julien, who retires at the end of 2026 after 11 years at Christel House South Africa, says:

“Every woman who steps into our school with confidence in who she is and her place in the world helps our girls imagine more for themselves.”

This Women’s Month, you too can help open a door.

Your monthly donation can help fund our Youth Career Hub and support young people as they build their futures. You can also open your professional network by offering job shadows, workplace visits, internships, mentoring or employment opportunities.

Because when we empower our students, they can go on to become women who empower others.

Support their journey today: https://sa.christelhouse.org/donate/

27/08/2026

Welcome to our Board, Karen Nadasen!

We are delighted to welcome Karen Nadasen as the newest member of the Christel House South Africa Board.

Karen has more than 20 years of experience in technology, digital innovation and payments. As the former CEO of PayU Africa, she helped grow the business across several markets and used technology to make financial services more accessible.

Karen is passionate about creating opportunities and empowering the next generation of leaders. We are excited to welcome her to our Board and look forward to the knowledge, experience and fresh perspective she will bring to Christel House South Africa.

Her appointment also gives us another reason to celebrate the incredible female leadership within Christel House South Africa. Today, 73% of our Board members and 75% of our Leadership Team are women, something we are especially proud to recognise during Women's Month.

Please join us in giving Karen a warm welcome to the Christel House South Africa family! We look forward to working together to continue creating opportunities and brighter futures for the children and young people we serve.

25/08/2026

Two of our robotics teams are heading to nationals!

We are incredibly proud of our Christel House South Africa learners who are showing what becomes possible when young people are given access to technology, mentorship and opportunities to develop their talents.

At the recent World Robot Olympiad (WRO) Provincial Event, held at the The University of the Western Cape, one of our teams achieved 1st place in the Senior category, automatically qualifying for the South African National event! Explorer Prime team also achieved an impressive 3rd place and we've recieved confirmation that they will also be competing at nationals.

For Grade 11 learner, Sabri K., who achieved first place alongside teammate, Jacen Fisher, robotics has been about much more than building and programming robots. Sabri is considering persuing a career in biomedical engineering.

The opportunities don't stop there! Five of our learners have also qualified for the Minecraft Build Battle and have been invited to represent the Western Cape at the Curro Clash Grand Final LAN in Gauteng later this year.

A huge congratulations to all our learners and to educators and robotics coaches, Cedric and Beverley Esterhuizen, whose dedication continues to create opportunities for our students to explore coding, robotics, Esports and STEM.

Beverley also received an incredible achievement of her own at the WRO Provincial Event, where she was named the second highest-ranked Head Judge, receiving a four out of five-star judge rating!

Congratulations, Team Christel House! We can't wait to see what you achieve next.