Graduates of the Mr Price Foundation’s Professional Retail Programme celebrate completing the JumpStart skills development programme in November 2020. The work readiness programme has an 80% employment rate (2018 – 2021). Image: Mr Price Foundation / Tim Lubbe
A story of making an impact, not profit
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From humble beginnings in 2005, the Mr Price Foundation has impacted thousands of youth throughout South Africa.
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The Foundation’s high-impact programmes in education and skills development are strategic and built with a business mindset to ensure both scalability and sustainability.
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Programmes have evolved continually since inception to empower the youth and unlock tomorrow’s potential.
The Mr Price Foundation was established in 2005 to make a difference in South Africa. With increasing youth unemployment rates and low access to quality education, the responsibility falls on everyone — individuals, business, organisations and government — to be part of the solution. Through generous resources from Mr Price Group and other donors, we activated education and youth development programmes for South Africa’s youth, which are aligned to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
As a separate entity, we don’t make a profit; we create impact. We are not seeking accolades; we exist to make a positive difference. Over a decade later and we have impacted thousands of beneficiaries — learners, educators, principals, and unemployed youth — as we pursue our purpose of unlocking tomorrow’s potential. With our recent name change, from MRP Foundation to the Mr Price Foundation, we reflect on our journey of making an impact in individuals and underserved communities throughout South Africa.
Young learners enjoying physical education at a primary school in Mitchell’s Plain.
Our Milestones
Transforming physical education in schools
With the support of the National Department of Basic Education, in 2005 we launched a programme that brought back the joys of regular sporting activities and harnessed the power of sports to develop healthy lifestyles. Spanning over nine provinces, 170 schools, 900 educators and 65 000 learners from selected low-income communities, the sport for development programme promoted healthy minds and bodies among young learners through regular physical education lessons.
JumpStart empowers unemployed youth
In 2007, we launched our work readiness programme. With an urgent need to bridge the gap between school and the working world, the work readiness programme prepared matriculants for entry-level retail positions. In 2009, the programme was so successful it became a national project. From 2018 – 2021, 17,346 youth benefitted with 56% finding employment.
JumpStart expands to manufacturing
JumpStart began working closely with local manufacturers to address the skills gap in the supply chain in 2013. Programmes were designed to develop production and manufacturing skills for multi-skilled seamstresses or footwear manufacturers positions. Once again, the programme’s success was found in partnering with the local industry to develop in-demand skills. Since 2014, 973 youth have completed the manufacturing programme with 78% finding employment.
Schools programme pilots in KwaDukuza
With learnings gathered from physical education interventions, a holistic schools programme was piloted from 2011 – 2018 in five primary schools in KwaDukuza, KwaZulu-Natal. Creative arts and culture lessons, environmental awareness, technology-based learning, educator training and mentorships as well as assistance in mainstream subjects helped make the programme a success, so much so that the five schools outperformed others in the district, province and nationally on their average performance.
EduRise reaches more schools
Formerly called the MRP Foundation Schools Programme, EduRise expanded its reach into Hammarsdale, Tongaat, Mitchell’s Plain and QwaQwa in 2018. The holistic education programme combines management and leadership, educator development and parent and community involvement to give learners a quality education. In 2021, 98 primary schools were part of the school’s programme and physical education was in 18 high schools. Together, over 78,000 learners and 1,500 educators from across the country were impacted.
Retail value chain opens up career opportunities
JumpStart soon expanded to address skills gaps in other areas of the retail value chain. As the foundation explores more opportunities for developing youth, more of these young people can be linked to meaningful career opportunities. In 2021, the JumpStart programmes benefitted 1,400 youth with 66% of them finding employment.
Did you know that it only costs less than R1 a day to put a learner through EduRise?
If you would like to join our journey of hope and invest in our youth’s future, please donate here.
