Chamberlains has a rich history of involvement and contribution locally in the Pretoria community as well as nationally. Our aim is to focus on schooling as we believe that education, particularly early education, has a strong impact on the future of our country.

Historically we have sponsored South African conservation initiatives, community projects and education initiatives.

Pure Hope education is a pre-primary and primary educational institution for under privileged children.
The school programme focuses on developing the children in all areas and aspects of their lives, including
schooling, food and ministry. We strive for a positive change in South Africa and believe that it needs to start with the education of our children.

Click here to learn more about Pure Hope education.

Good Work Foundation’s mission is to lead a focused, achievable and digitally-powered education model for rural Africa. Our vision is to lead a sustainable model of learning that can be introduced to rural African communities. The model will focus on delivering “digital-era” literacy education and career training via community-driven digital learning centres of excellence.

Click here to learn more about Good Work Foundation.

The vision of BirdLife South Africa wishes to see a country and region where nature and people live in greater harmony, more equitably and sustainably. BirdLife South Africa’s mission is to conserve birds, their habitats and biodiversity through scientifically-based programmes, through supporting the sustainable and equitable use of natural resources and through encouraging people to enjoy and value nature.

Click here to learn more about BirdLife South Africa.

Project Literacy’s mission is to provide disadvantaged adults, without any form of previous learning, access to a basic education. Acquiring literacy and numeracy skills goes a long way towards addressing the inequalities of the past. Project Literacy enables adults to read and write, and take control of their everyday lives.

Click here to learn more about Project Literacy.

The Vula Programme aims to develop the teaching and learning of Mathematics, Physical Science and
Technology, at schools in the Midlands. The programme, launched in 2001, is Hilton College’s educational
service provider to the under-resourced schools, and disadvantaged communities in the region.

Click here to learn more about the Vula Programme

Bathokwa Primary School in Saulsville, West of Pretoria, accommodates over a thousand young children from some of the poorest surrounding township areas.

The school is currently led by Ms Crystal Nkwana, who is dedicated to the education of her charges. She is enthusiastic, positive and passionate.

For many years the Chamberlain Group have been supporting the school, focussing on literacy. We pay for a full-time Librarian who works on the literacy programme at the school. In addition, the Chamberlain Group pay the salaries of two full-time teachers and has recently donated four additional classrooms. Before that, there were more than eighty children in some classes.

Because the school is so well respected in the community, and is performing so effectively, it is flooded with applicants and it is severely overcrowded.

The aim of this mission is to continually create employment for unemployed woman in the rural community of Makapanstad through the creation of unique contemporary felt designs.

Click here to learn more about Heartfelt.

This is a structured programme that helps young children, aged 3 – 12, to develop a rich understanding of essential mathematical concepts. The programme is generally offered through lessons at schools and centres.

Click here to learn more about Miki Maths.

The aim of this Trust is to provide financial support and mentoring that will assist scholars who face economic hardship, to complete their tertiary studies. Chamberlains is currently supporting 4 students. 2 students are studying Occupational Therapy, 1 is studying law and the fourth student is studying Social Sciences.

Click here to learn more about Silibona Trust.

We introduced the Adult Education and Training (AET) program for staff members in 2006. 18 learners
from the Riviera store enrolled in the program. As a result of its early success, the program was expanded to more learners at our Waltloo, Montana and Waterkloof Glen stores. In 2010 our Montana store introduced the program to 10 more learners. Our goal is to create a culture of training and skills development to help our employees improve their skills, effectiveness and productivity.

Employees with or without matric.

The government (Sector Education and Training Authorities) has identified NQF level 1 as the minimum level of education attainable within South Africa’s workforce. Based on this, we aim to help our employees to:

• Improve their literacy and numeracy skills at NQF level 1
• Enhance their life skills
• Gain future access to Further Education and Training (FET)
• And, ultimately, access to Higher Education and Training (HET)

As part of our AET programmes:

• Learners with complete workbooks, and sufficient revision, are registered with the Independent Examination Board (IEB) to write examinations
• Learners who pass a particular learning area are awarded a certificate at a ceremony

Our program is producing wonderful results. It has made an impact in each learner’s professional and private lives. We value our employees, and as a show of our appreciation we dedicate ourselves to helping them develop both on a personal and professional level.

Brainboosters was introduced for employees in 2016. Staff with children who are between the ages of 0 and 6 could enrol in the programme. 

The objective of this programme was to promote the well-being and growth of our employee's children. Parenting skills, developmental toys and theme-related books are provided to achieve this outcome. 

Initially, a total number of 24 families were enrolled in the programme. This year, 135 individuals are benefitted by Brainboosters.  

Bursaries are offered to our staff to further themselves in tertiary education.

A manager might suggest a certain study path for an employee in order to develop themselves in their role at Chamberlains.

Currently, 42 staff members are sponsored for further studies.

Chamberlains also offers bursaries to the children of its employees.

These bursaries go towards secondary and tertiary education. Scholastic excellence is encouraged and celebrated. Monetary awards are presented each year for every distinction attained.

The bursary fund has 63 beneficiaries for 2021.

A programme is offered where staff and their families can gain access to a range of counselling and consulting services.

The services offered include professional counselling, life management, operational administrative services, referral services, medical advisory and managerial consulting.

Individual utilisation has increased due to this programme and is above the ICAS and industry averages.