Access Ed: 

TERuSA: Transforming Education in South Africa

TERuSA is IFGI’s longest running program; we assumed management in 2014.  All children of the families who worked on a rural farm in Roodekrans, South Africa were invited to participate in an educational program that provided access to a quality education.  In the early days of TERuSA, our participants were day students –  arriving  at school each morning and returning home late afternoon. Because of the rural nature of townships and farms, this meant that our participants walked 2.5 miles of difficult dirt roads from their homes to the nearest paved road, where our transportation would pick them up and take them to school almost two hours away. They commuted to and from school each day, three hours each way. This was not a sustainable schedule, so in 2015 we moved to a boarding school model where each student is transported to school on Sunday evenings, and returned home on Friday afternoons. Boarding at the school also allows for enhanced nutrition and participation in extra-curricular activites.  

These children attend different schools, depending on age and interests.  One of this year’s participants attends a high school with an agricultural focus, another attends an English Language boarding school.

TERuSA is a collaborative effort between IFGI and a nonprofit organization in Johannesburg, South Africa, Investing for Innovation (IFI).  We are thrillled with our partnership – their engagement with the students, their families, and the schools make this program work.

In 2023, we have 5 students in TERuSA: three 6th grade students; one 8th grade student; and one 9th grade student.  We are committed to supporting these children until they complete their K-12 education.