Mellon Educate SA

Improving education, the Mellon Way Mellon Housing Initiative was started in 2002 by philanthropist and accomplished entrepreneur Niall Mellon. While on holiday in South Africa with his family he passed an informal settlement where people had no running water or electricity and this was his driving force to make a difference. In conjunction with the South African Government Mellon Housing Initiative built sustainable houses for 125 000 people. This was supported by 25 000 selfless volunteers and altruists within Corporate South Africa. Today these houses still stand where informal settlements used to be, furnished with solar geysers and electricity and remain a blue print for the Government on which to base their designs for the future. Niall had the privilege of meeting and spending time with Nelson Mandela. It was a conversation with him that inspired a new vision for Mellon Educate. Mellon Educate has pledged a 10-year education development programme to provide better education to more than 100,000 young children. Improving education, the Mellon way, means ensuring children have a solid roof over their heads and teachers are equipped to deliver the curriculum efficiently. We partner with struggling schools in South Africa that are operating under very challenging circumstances. These schools have insuficient classrooms and facilities, and may lack electricity, running water and adequate sanitation. One of our first tasks is to replace these structures with stable and safe buildings to the Mellon Educate standard. The next task is providing schools with innovative management and teaching methodologies, support and resources to empower staff to deliver a first-class education to all children. Through the Memorandum of Agreement with the Western Cape Education Department we are held accountable to improve results within the schools that we operate.