PATRIZIA School of Hope
With our local partner Thembalitsha, we are embarking on our second educational project in Cape Town, South Africa, following the PATRIZIA Child Care Western Cape. The School of Hope has been dedicated to providing disadvantaged teenagers from challenging family backgrounds and young mothers with a second chance to complete their secondary education since 1999.
Employing a holistic educational and support approach, students can progress at their own pace from 8th to 12th grade.
„So far, 99% of our students have successfully completed their schooling with a diploma.”
Patrick Lewis
Principal of PATRIZIA School of Hope
Alternative learning for extraordinary circumstances
Most students at the PATRIZIA School of Hope struggle to integrate into the regular education system as they are older than 18 years and are rejected by state schools. Many of the youth attending the PATRIZIA School of Hope in Cape Town have discontinued their education due to challenging family circumstances. Six percent of the female students are already mothers. Some live without family in simple accommodations, but even those with intact family lives are affected by the structural poverty of the region. Traditional school structures do not fit this challenging learning environment. Additionally, it requires the support of social workers, therapeutic services, and individual career guidance.
The School of Hope in Cape Town provides an opportunity for a better future to 170 students annually by creating a supportive and familial learning environment tailored to their individual needs in small classes.
Going beyond academic education, the school ensures a safe environment and provides meals. Each student receives three meals a day - breakfast, lunch, and a snack - often the only sustenance they have for the day.
100% of your donation goes directly to our projects.
New paths and new perspectives
During the COVID-19 pandemic, teachers were unable to maintain contact with their students. The period of school closures has clearly demonstrated the urgent need for digitalization of the school. To address this gap, the PATRIZIA Foundation launched the "Ready for the Future" digitalization project at the School of Hope in 2023, which provides the basic digital infrastructure and imparts the necessary media literacy. In the first phase, the twelve teachers at the school receive specialized training in using digital media for teaching. This is a crucial step in improving the overall educational experience and access to education for the students.
In addition to teacher training, the program aims to create the necessary infrastructure to support digital education. This includes establishing a reliable power supply through a generator and ensuring a sufficiently fast internet connection.
The implementation of the program at the School of Hope is made possible by public funding from the "EZ-Kleinprojektefonds" of the Schmitz Foundations and through the generous support of our funding partner HEICO. This funding for our work on-site enables the students of the School of Hope to actively participate in the digital world and utilize these skills for a successful start in their careers.
Our Project-Partner:
Stories of Change in Cape Town
Tatenda's Story of Change
“I had already heard nothing but good things about the school from the other kids.”
Tatenda lives in a children’s home and has already experienced many different schools. For a long time, attending school was irregular, and there were even periods when he couldn’t go to school for almost a year. As he got older and without formal education, accessing learning opportunities became increasingly difficult – many schools turned him away.
Then Tatenda found the School of Hope. He was admitted and immediately became part of a close-knit community where everyone looks out for and supports one another. For the first time in a long while, Tatenda could attend school regularly and experience that learning and belonging were possible.
Today, Tatenda looks to the future with hope. He dreams of becoming a pilot, an ear specialist, or an IT professional. He is especially passionate about helping people who cannot hear to experience music again. For Tatenda, the School of Hope is more than education – it is a place where he can develop his dreams and work toward them, in an environment full of understanding, care, and support.
Endinawo's Story of Change
For a long time, Endinawo struggled at school. In primary school, she found it difficult to understand the learning material, and without individual support, she fell behind. The prospect of continuing her education seemed almost impossible – until she discovered the School of Hope.
Here, Endinawo experienced for the first time that school can be tailored to her needs. Teachers recognize her strengths and challenges, provide targeted support, and ensure that she can catch up step by step.
Today, Endinawo has big plans for the future: she wants to study law with a focus on human rights or international business administration. Both reflect her passion for social responsibility, politics, and economic thinking. For Endinawo, the School of Hope is a place where education becomes possible again – and where she receives the tools to turn her dreams into reality.
“With problems – whether at school or at home – you are never left to face them alone.”
Gugu's Story of Change
“I had several options, and I am very glad that I chose the School of Hope.”
Gugu always wanted to learn in a place that takes her interests and dreams seriously – and the School of Hope gave her exactly that opportunity. Back in primary school, she heard about the school from older students and was immediately impressed. Unlike many of her classmates who attend the School of Hope as a second chance, Gugu made a conscious decision to enroll because she wanted to make the most of the opportunities it offers.
Today, Gugu has big plans for the future: she wants to become a professional dancer, a gynecologist, or a chef. Dance, in particular, runs in her blood: her grandfather was a musician and dancer, and her mother a professional ballroom dancer. The School of Hope gives her the space to grow, discover her talents, and gain the tools she needs to turn her dreams into reality.