Over a decade ago, the seeds of a vision were planted in the Western Cape: to build a model of faith-driven education that could transform not only the lives of children but also the communities they call home. Inspired in part by The Love Trust and their Nokuphila School in Gauteng, Trinity Children’s Centre was founded, and they are now officially joining hands with The Love Trust.
Trinity Children’s Centre is a small but mighty school in Mitchell’s Plain with a reputation for academic excellence, personal care and a deep-rooted commitment to holistic education. After years of shared learning, collaboration and aligned vision, Trinity will officially become part of The Love Trust family — a bond that strengthens both organisations while preserving their unique identities.
“The culture of excellent Christian education is the same,” says Andrew Barnes, a founding board member of Trinity and the regional director of The Love Trust in the Western Cape. “We’re not just teaching children — we’re training the leaders of tomorrow. That’s the bigger picture.”
A blueprint for long-term impact
The journey began three years ago when The Love Trust launched its Western Cape pilot programme in Mitchell’s Plain to train preschool teachers. Based on their tried-and-tested adult Teacher Training Centre model, this culminates in the upcoming graduation of the first set of teachers with an NQF Level 4 qualification. The pilot’s success has paved the way for a broader teacher training strategy in the province, to offer both NQF Level 4 and 5 in the future.
This is no small feat in a region where Early Childhood Development (ECD) training is desperately needed, and access to quality professional development remains a barrier for many. The Western Cape branch of The Love Trust is fully focused on bridging that gap, and Trinity Children’s Centre is a vital part of that mission.
A new model for sustainability
Though Trinity and The Love Trust will remain separate not-for-profit organisations, their alignment means shared governance and access to crucial resources. The trustees of The Love Trust will appoint Trinity’s board, with their CEO, Erik van den Top, serving as board chair — a move that ensures sound compliance, policy guidance, and long-term sustainability.
“Before this, we were getting too large to manage on our own but not big enough to justify a full management team,” Barnes explains. “Now we’re part of something bigger. We’re gaining wisdom, governance, and compliance — without starting from scratch.”
This management model couldn’t have come at a better time. Founding visionary Renier Coetzee, who served as principal and later in a strategic role, has stepped away after years of dedicated service. Rather than developing a leadership vacuum, the board chose to build on his legacy by joining forces with The Love Trust.
A prototype worth replicating
With just 15 learners per grade and a comprehensive intervention team to support students facing trauma and gang-related stress, Trinity has proven that smaller schools can achieve exceptional outcomes. In annual provincial assessments, their Grade 3s and 6s consistently outperform peers, often topping results across the Western Cape.
“When we started, we were just a few brave and unknowing individuals,” Barnes reflects. “An actuary, a pastor, and a social worker. But we had hope, and sometimes a little naïveté is necessary to start something bold in South Africa’s crowded NPO space.”
Now, as Trinity’s first cohort prepares for matric, the school is looking to the future, including dreams of expansion.
The power of a shared banner
With The Love Trust’s track record in policy, fundraising, and large-scale training programmes, this move hopes to boost donor confidence.
“We’re not just a small school anymore,” says Barnes. “Being under The Love Trust banner tells funders that we’re secure, we’re scalable, and we’re serious.”
That includes exciting opportunities to bring trainee teachers to Trinity for in-service learning and to use Trinity as a model pre-school site. There are also bigger dreams of replicating the combined school-and-training model elsewhere, provided the right people and resources can be found.
“The only thing that stops us now is funding. The expertise is there. The vision is there. We just need the support,” Barnes adds.
A celebration of progress
On 10 May at 10 am, Trinity Children’s Centre will celebrate this new chapter with a community celebration event featuring student performances, parent testimonies, and a shared sense of purpose. ECD stakeholders, supporters and local media are invited to attend this event that marks the next step in a long-term journey to change lives through education.
“We’re not just teaching one group of children,” Barnes reminds us. “We’re investing in a community — and we’re training the teachers who will go on to shape many more.”
As The Love Trust continues to spread its footprint, one thing is clear: this is more than an expansion. It’s a legacy in the making! One built on faith, courage, and the belief that education can unlock a better future for all.