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.
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.
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.
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.
We continued to expand our programs and initiatives in ways that support individual students and their communities. By investing in educators, schools, and communities, we create support systems that enable youth to thrive in and beyond the classroom. We have reached 3 communities and directly impacted 19 Khulani Schools. Additionally, our initiatives have positively influenced the lives of over 10,000 educators, demonstrating our commitment to fostering meaningful change in the communities we serve. Over 663 educators have benefited directly from our programs, showcasing the breadth of our reach and effectiveness.
Our efforts remain focused on targeted interventions aimed at creating robust support systems that enhance educational practices and infrastructure. We continue to support over 29,234 learners aged 5 to 18 across 19 Khulani School Program partners, providing access to digital skills, improved infrastructure, literacy initiatives, and values-based leadership. Additionally, we have expanded our Education Changemakers Program to include East and Central Africa. Our team has grown exponentially, not only in numbers but also in the impact we have on the lives we touch. Trevor Noah continues to advocate for equitable access to education, reinforcing our mission and vision.
In 2025, we deepened our commitment to education equity through bold, future-focused investments and partnerships. We launched the Khulani Nathi Innovation Fund, a R30 million ($1.75 million) venture philanthropy initiative designed to provide flexible funding to South African education non-profits advancing innovative approaches to teacher development and youth opportunity pathways. During the year, Microsoft made an additional $1.2 million contribution to the Fund, strengthening its scale and signaling strong partner confidence in this model. The fund addresses critical systemic gaps in the philanthropic landscape, where flexible capital remains scarce despite its proven ability to catalyse sustainable change—particularly as South Africa prepares for a projected teacher shortage by 2040 and a rapidly growing youth population across the continent.
We also reached a significant infrastructure milestone with the completion of a community hall at Eqinisweni Secondary School, built by local NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) youth through our Faranani Infrastructure Project. Spanning 1,044 square metres and seating up to 300 people, the hall stands as a symbol of community ownership, empowerment, and expanded learning and gathering opportunities.
Our work continued to centre inclusive education globally through our fifth Education Changemakers cohort in partnership with Regional Leadership Center Eastern Africa and the publication of thought leadership pieces that amplify African education voices. To date, we remain supportive of over 300 Education Changemaker alumni who continue to pursue innovative start-ups and early-stage social impact projects advancing education outcomes in 30 countries across Southern, Central and Eastern Africa.
In partnership with Microsoft, we continue upskilling teachers across all our 19 Khulani School partners with AI skills to enhance teaching and improve learner outcomes. While not positioning ourselves as AI experts, we remain steadfast as champions of education equity—embracing technology as a tool to strengthen educators, unlock potential, and ensure every child has access to quality education, regardless of their birthplace.
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.
