Royal Drakensberg Education Trust

The Royal Drakensberg Education Trust is a registered non-profit working in a disadvantaged rural area of the northern Drakensberg, KwaZulu-Natal. The Trust's mission — "learn2read and read2learn" — is delivered through three interconnected initiatives that together support a child from birth through to age 10.

Royal Drakensberg Primary School (established 2007) serves children ages 4–10 with a curriculum that emphasises mother-tongue foundations while promoting English literacy and holistic child development. The school also mentors community pre-school teachers, lifting standards across the broader early-learning landscape in the region.

The Khanyisela Project (started 2006) is the Trust's early childhood development arm. It supports 18 ECD facilities, has trained more than 50 ECD practitioners, and promotes learning through play and language development. Khanyisela offers formal qualifications in partnership with Midlands College, ongoing professional development, and an internship pathway for emerging practitioners.

BabyBoost (launched 2017) is an infant and caregiver programme focused on neurological development through responsive caregiving. It delivers support via one-on-one coaching, home visits, play groups, and a toy and book lending library — meeting families where they are and embedding learning into everyday routines.

Together, these three programmes form a continuous spine of early education and care for children in the rural northern Drakensberg, building the foundation that every child needs to thrive in school and in life.