Our History
The Rainbow School was founded by the Rev. Dr. Spiwo Xapile, a charismatic and far thinking man who was appalled by the effects of extreme poverty and of the Apartheid imposed “Bantu Education” that left under-educated parents ill equipped to help their children with their learning.
He found volunteers to help the children with their literacy and numeracy skills, working from several converted shipping containers on an arid piece of land. However, the volunteers were not paid and he struggled to secure the support they needed.
In 1999 Margaret Legum, a prominent activist in the Apartheid years, together with a few friends visited Cape Town and saw for herself the hardships that Rev Xapile was facing. Margaret returned to Richmond, UK, determined to help and formed the Rainbow Fund for South Africa Charity. This fund has enabled the school to flourish from 20 scholars to more than 200 and it continues to grow.
The students come from a variety of local schools for assistance with their homework and learning development as well as other educational needs. Since the Skills Programme has also begun, we are now offering workshops such as Plumbing, Computer Skills and Arts & Crafts.
The school outgrew the shipping containers and is now housed in the J.L Zwane Centre which was established in 2002 as a joint initiative of Stellenbosch University, the Church, Investec Bank and the Guguletu community to meet the needs of the people. The Clocktower of the centre stands proud, a beacon of hope to the people of the Township offering different programmes such as an HIV/AIDS support group and of course the Homework School.