About Us
Through partnerships and thinking long term we believe that together we can make a difference.
Our mission is to build a community of South Africans who want to create a movement for better education.
Who We Are
We started Crew for a Cause with the idea that small contributions from many of us could make a big difference.
In 2017, we found 15 friends who were keen to contribute a small amount each month to a scholar’s education at our old school. Once we started, more and more people wanted to get involved and our Crew started growing.
Today, we have over 300 members and have partnered with professional education experts who specialise in recruiting the most promising scholars and mentoring them during their high school journey. Our focus is on building our community and developing our impact.
It’s become clear to us that many people want to contribute to education in South Africa, they just aren’t quite sure how to do it. We strive to make it as easy and rewarding as possible to support education and ensure our members can see exactly where their money is going and who’s benefiting.
The Crew for a Cause Bursary Program
How our bursary program works.
Student Recruitment
We recruit the learners based on independent testing in English, Maths, Science and grit.
Financial Support
We support them with psychosocial support, clothing, transport and extra lessons.
Trustworthy
We follow stringent financial protocols, overseen by both internal and external auditors.
Student Guidance
We provide them with career guidance and emotional support throughout their school years.
Board of Advisors
Tim Harris
Tim is an economic development expert with two decades of experience in policy, governance and economic competitiveness. He was previously the Shadow Minister of Finance in South Africa, the Chair of South African Tourism, and the CEO of a regional development agency, Wesgro.
Kholeka Zama
Kholeka is a compassionate and dedicated Chartered Accountant CA (SA) and has spent two decades nurturing her global expertise across various industries, both listed and unlisted. From social housing to community development, her heartfelt commitment shines through in every executive and non-executive role, touching countless lives and fostering genuine transformation.
Matthew Koning
With a background in behavior change, Matthew has built a career developing and implementing strategies that drive positive change on both individual and organizational levels. In 2017, he founded Crew for a Cause, motivated by a desire to give back and make a positive influence on society. In his spare time, he enjoys trail running and being in the mountains.
Aaron Fuchs
Aaron’s journey blends a passion for business, education, and helping others reach their full potential. A Yale graduate in Mechanical Engineering, Aaron founded an education company that focuses on enhancing college students’ career prospects through practical learning and real-world experience. Over a decade, Aaron’s leadership and innovative approach helped thousands of students prepare for successful careers in competitive industries.
Dane Marrison
Born in Cape Town; bred in Botswana; and honoury Maasai warrior from his time spent in East Africa: Dane’s heart and soul is rooted in Africa. Having a diverse background in Hospitality Management; Business Development; Social and Environmental Reponsibility: his aim in life is to empower those for a regenerative future. Being a part of Crew for a Cause my goal is to grow and develop the organisation; and in doing so, enrich the lives of so many more individuals that deserve the chance in life we can give them.
Daniel Williams
Daniel is chartered accountant and a nature lover who worked for two years as a game ranger in the Kruger National Park. He has a passion for wildlife, photography and travel, and his recent adventures include visiting the mountain gorillas Uganda, climbing Kilimanjaro, and trips to Sri Lanka and Kenya. He returned to Cape Town in 2020 after five years in London. Daniel currently manages a funds invested UK based SME’s
Matthew Sterne
A global wanderer, Matthew spent 7 years specialising in unskilled labour in places like Medellin, Melbourne and Marrakech before spending 10 years as a travel journalist. He now runs a walking tour business in Cape Town. From a family of teachers, Matthew draws on his belief that a strong education system is vital to the future of South Africa to fuel his passion for Crew for a Cause.
Education Partners
We partner with two high school bursary partners to ensure our learners have the best chance of reaching their potential.
Spirit Foundation
Since 1994, the Spirit Foundation has been a catalyst for change, guiding scholars from under-served communities through their high school education, paving the way for a brighter future.
The Spirit Education Foundation offers financial support, mentorship, skills development and upliftment programme to all of their learners. The mentorship programme (mentors are university students who were also once Spirit learners) motivates scholars to achieve to the best of their ability academically and in all other aspects of their high school education, encouraging creativity, leadership and strong community awareness.
Inhlakanipho Education and Development Trust
The Inhlakanipho Education and Development Trust (IEDT) was founded and established in 2000 by the Umbono Capital Partners’ corporate social investment initiative. The concept for IEDT arose out of one of the Director’s, Phiway Mbuyazi, own educational experiences coupled with the Directors’ desire to positively impact historically disadvantaged learners.
The vision of the IEDT is to raise tomorrow’s African leaders by assisting the learners and youth of today. They ensure that South Africa’s future leaders are fully prepared for the working world and solidly grounded through a good education and ethical business principles.
Events
When it comes to our events, the mantra is simple – let’s have a great time for a great cause.
We run events throughout the year as a way to bring more people into the Crew, nurture our community and have a good time! Education news in South Africa can often be negative and we want to ensure we always spark joy in whatever we do. Whether it’s helping our learners with the small things, the news we share with our members or the parties we throw.
We’d love to see you at our next event! Follow us on Instagram to stay informed of our upcoming events.
Contribute to the Crew for a Cause Education Fund today
Your small contribution will make a huge difference in many lives. Granting a single scholar the opportunity to access quality education can create a powerful ripple effect. It uplifts families, inspires communities and helps us take important steps towards creating a harmonious and prosperous nation.
