Our Story
A Legacy
Trevor Noah Foundation is an ode to the greatest gift Trevor Noah has ever received, learning. We are fuelled by Trevor’s love for education, for giving kids an opportunity, and for the teachers that got him to where he is today.
Our Beginnings
Trevor Noah Foundation is an ode to the greatest gift Trevor Noah has ever received, learning. Fuelled by Trevor’s love for education, for giving kids an opportunity, and for the teachers that got him to where he is today; the Foundation honestly believes education is the seed from which everything grows.
In 2018, the Foundation began supporting one school in Johannesburg that catered to orphaned youth. We held an intimate launch in a school hall, surrounded by those who mattered the most – a community of learners, teachers, and grassroots organisations in the educational ecosystem.
Our Future
We’re obsessed with problem-solving for our vision – a world where education enables youth to dream, see and build the impossible. We’re always seeking partners interested in helping us reimagine how youth learn, acquire skills and harness the curiosity necessary to lead the next generation.
By 2025, the Foundation aims to have a direct and deep impact on 50 000 youth and an indirect impact on 500 000 youth by capacitating educators and building active communities. The Foundation is committed to and confident that we can achieve our goals because we have established strong partnerships with schools, communities and like-minded organisations equally committed to positively impacting education.
While we began our journey in South Africa, we aspire to extend our footprint across the African continent. With the launch of Education Changemakers in 2020, providing leadership training to teachers from the Sub-Saharan African region, we’re on our way to becoming an African brand.
Our Brief History
In a few short years, the Foundation has created holistic support systems that enable the government to achieve its envisioned educational outcomes.
The Foundation launches with one partner school. We invest in infrastructure, digital skills, career guidance, and mental wellness, impacting over 500 students and 50 teachers.
We conduct a successful pilot impact study, resulting in plans for scale. For greater Return of Investment (ROI), we pivot our approach to training and empowering teachers for improved education.
We launch a leadership training initiative in partnership with YALI. Our first cohort of 50 education leaders represent 13 Southern African countries, while 42% report living in a rural area.
Despite the detrimental impact of Covid-19, we onboarded three new Khulani School partners and opened a digital Learning Centre at each site. We also launched the Faranani Infrastructure Project, addressing poor school infrastructure and youth unemployment.
Our Khulani Schools programme adopts a community-driven approach, partnering with secondary and primary school feeders in one community. At the primary level, we invest in improving literacy and math rates. By 2025 we aim to have a direct impact on 50 000 youth through 25 school partnerships.
Our Founder
Trevor Noah came from humble beginnings in Johannesburg, South Africa. Born to a Black mother and White, Swiss father, Trevor’s birth was considered illegal under the “Mixed Marriages Act of 1949” which banned marriage between white people and people of colour. Despite hardships, he grew up in South Africa with a wonderful sense of humour.
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Trevor Noah Foundation is headed by an innovative, forward-thinking team that’s passionate about the education, growth, and future employment opportunities of our youth.
We’ve made an impact across South Africa, Africa as a whole, and the world beyond. Find out more about our team or our global impact by selecting either of the options available here.