As 2024 ends, The Love Trust’s Nokuphila School celebrates another year of meaningful impact and new milestones.
From welcoming its first year of high school students to launching its Legacy Fund, the organisation has single-mindedly continued its mission of empowering South African communities through education.
Under new leadership, The Love Trust has maintained its core belief of empowerment through equal opportunity. This year has truly demonstrated the power of embracing new opportunities.
New leadership, same vision
When Love Trust CEO, Erik van den Top, stepped into his new role at the start of 2024, he brought over a decade of experience with the organisation. Having joined in 2012, Van den Top has been a steadfast presence, previously serving as COO and Head of Strategy and Governance. His deep understanding of their journey and his first-hand experience of its growth made him uniquely equipped to lead the organisation forward into its new chapter.
Despite the leadership transition, the Love Trust’s vision for Nokuphila School remains unwavering: to provide quality Christian education and holistic support to learners and their communities. Van den Top is steadfast in his belief that this guiding mission is the foundation of the organisation’s success.
In line with this commitment, the entire team works together daily from the Nokuphila School campus, maintaining close connections with the learners they serve. This on-site presence reinforces the collaborative spirit that defines The Love Trust, ensuring that every staff member is integrated into the community they work alongside.
As a strong and transparent communicator, van den Top hosts termly CEO briefings, updating the staff on the organisation’s short and long-term strategies. These sessions are instrumental in keeping the staff aligned with the organisation’s vision; creating a unified approach to their work.
Milestones in Education: Nokuphila’s first High School year
This year marked another significant landmark for The Love Trust as they welcomed their first cohort of Grade 8 learners—graduates of last year’s Grade 7 class at Nokuphila Primary School. Their transition into high school has been a successful process, and the organisation is proud to continue supporting these learners as they progress to become Nokuphila’s first Grade 9 learners in 2025.
Expanding the high school is an exciting prospect, but The Love Trust has no immediate plans for further growth. While running Nokuphila through to Matric is a part of their long-term vision, their experience has shown how costly such an expansion can be. Without capital funding and three years of secured operational funding, they cannot commit to adding additional grades. Their primary focus remains on providing the best possible support for Nokuphila’s current learners.
Running a high school comes with unique challenges and significant financial demands, particularly in providing the learners with essential resources such as laboratories, technology equipment, and specialised tools like scientific calculators.
For now, the Nokuphila School is focused on ensuring that every aspect of the high school aligns with its commitment to excellence. Their measured approach reflects a deep dedication to delivering a holistic experience, rather than expanding at the expense of standards.
Securing a future: The launch of the Legacy Fund
This year, The Love Trust launched an exciting initiative—the Legacy Fund—designed to ensure the organisation’s mission endures for generations to come. More than a traditional endowment fund model, the Legacy Fund symbolises a lasting commitment to the impact that The Love Trust strives to achieve, offering a way for donors to leave a meaningful mark on future learners and their communities.
The fund will contribute to the essential educational support of current and future learners and their growing initiatives that evolve with their communities’ needs. As a forward-thinking educational facility, the Nokuphila School remains committed to keeping up with technological advancements to address the widening gap that those less privileged suffer if they are not given access to current resources and technologies.
There are several ways to donate to the Legacy Fund: direct deposit, bequests, life insurance, retirement funds, trusts, and naming rights. With the vision to raise 100 million by 2060, the Love Trust legacy is set to change more lives than they had ever dared dream.
A heartfelt close to 2024
As the school year concludes, The Love Trust celebrates its learners’ remarkable milestones—from little ones graduating from Grade R to begin their exciting journey into “big school”, to Grade 8 learners that step confidently into high school. These moments are a testament to the transformative power of education and the nurturing environment provided at Nokuphila School.
While the school takes a well-deserved break to reset, The Love Trust’s commitment to its families remains unwavering. For many, the holidays can be a challenging time without the daily meals the school provides. To help bridge this gap, The Love Trust distributes food packages to families in need, ensuring they have the support they require during this time of rest and reflection.
This dedication to nurturing learners in and out of the classroom makes The Love Trust special. It’s not just about education; it’s about creating a foundation of hope, dignity, and opportunity extending beyond the school gates.