Islamic Relief South Africa provides holistic educational support to learners who face poverty-related barriers to schooling. Our interventions span the full education journey, from primary school through to tertiary level, and include:

• Sponsoring school fees, stationery, uniforms, transport and meals for learners in under-resourced communities
• Funding the running costs of no-fee community schools that would otherwise struggle to remain open
• Investing in school infrastructure improvements to create safe, dignified learning environments
• Training teachers to improve the quality of education delivered in under-resourced classrooms
• Providing bursaries and mentorship for youth accessing tertiary education
• Running skills development and vocational training programmes for youth who are not in employment, education or training

Islamic Relief South Africa has directly supported over 1,500 students with essential resources to help them stay in school and thrive academically. We have also provided specialised training to more than 20 teachers to enhance their teaching methodologies and improve learning outcomes in under-resourced classrooms.

These numbers grow each year as more donors choose to invest in the transformative power of education.

Islamic Relief South Africa partners with community schools in some of the country’s most under-resourced areas. Key partnerships include:

• The Leadership College (TLC), Manenberg, Cape Flats: A no-fee high school serving learners from one of Cape Town’s most marginalised communities. We have funded the running costs for 700 learners, covering essentials that allow the school to remain operational and accessible.
• Al Iman Combined School, Lenasia, Gauteng: Serving 200 learners from grades four to nine with a CAPS curriculum and Islamic studies. We have supplied all learners with locally-sourced uniforms and stationery, contributed R308,000 towards hostel fees, meal expenses and staff salaries, and invested in infrastructural improvements.

We are always looking to expand our school partnerships. If you represent a school in an under-resourced community, please contact us to discuss how we can support you.

Yes. The Islamic Relief South Africa Bursary Programme, run in partnership with the Ibn Sina Institute of TIBB, unlocks access to tertiary education for youth who cannot afford to further their studies.

The programme has enabled over 70 young people across two consecutive years to access tertiary education, with 75 percent of participants passing all their modules. Three students have already completed their diplomas or degrees through the programme.

The bursary specifically targets:

• 18 to 24-year-olds exiting our Orphan Sponsorship Programme
• Documented refugees and asylum seekers
• Young women
• People with disabilities

Priority fields include engineering, IT, logistics, accounting, and the built environment.

Youth unemployment in South Africa is one of the most pressing social challenges the country faces. Islamic Relief South Africa addresses this through a combination of formal education support, vocational training, entrepreneurship mentorship, and skills development programmes.

By ensuring young people have access to both academic qualifications and practical skills, we help them compete in a difficult job market and, where possible, create their own employment opportunities. Our livelihoods programmes work hand-in-hand with our education work to provide a complete pathway from school to economic independence.

You can support a child’s education by sponsoring an orphan or vulnerable child through our Orphan Sponsorship Programme. Your monthly contribution covers school fees, stationery, uniforms, meals and other essentials that keep a child in school and on track.

To find out more or to begin a sponsorship, visit donate.islamic-relief.org.za or call us on 0800 111 898.

Yes. We welcome partnerships with businesses, foundations, and organisations that share our commitment to education and youth development. Corporate partners can contribute to school infrastructure projects, bursary funding, teacher training, or skills development programmes.

All qualifying corporate donations are eligible for Section 18A tax deduction certificates. Please contact us at info@islamic-relief.org.za to discuss partnership opportunities.

Yes. Islamic Relief South Africa holds Section 18A status, which means qualifying donations are tax deductible. A Section 18A certificate will be issued upon request. Please contact us at info@islamic-relief.org.za or call 0800 111 898.