MySchool is South Africa's foremost school fund raising system, contributing more than R1.5 million to schools every month. The organisation was founded in 1996 as a social entrepreneurial initiative and is dedicated to supporting South African learners by creating sustainable income for schools, through a collaborative community support model.

The system gives parents and other community minded individuals a vehicle through which to make a meaningful contribution to schools, in a convenient and transparent manner.

The MySchool support system is not a donation service, but a true partnership between schools and business partners. Schools work hard at encouraging parents to support the programme while business partners commit to funding based on the parents' loyalty to their respective brands.

How MySchool works

MySchool facilitates school support on behalf of a range of business partners who have a specific interest in education. The fundraising system is a partnership through which all involved strive to create a better future for learners in South Africa.

Approximately 350 000 parents and community minded individuals have MySchool supporter cards. Whenever these supporters make a transaction at one of the MySchool partners, up to 1% of their transaction is allocated to the school they wish to support.

The supporter card is not a debit or credit card but serves as a measure through which valuable supporter data, such as transactions and funds raised for a particular school, are tracked.

In addition to channeling funds to schools, the system also promotes developmental initiatives in under resourced schools in conjunction with business partners. These initiatives are aimed at bringing much needed resources to these schools and starting partnerships with more affluent schools and business partners. Some initiatives include a Twinning model where resourced schools partner with under resourced schools in the pursuit of aiding development; multi-partner projects such as "Paint-a-thons" where a number of partners are involved in developing schools facilities, as well as advocating children's rights through collaborative campaigns such as the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children.

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