📚 Education & Bursaries

Talent Gets You Here.
Education Takes You Further.

The Rising Stars Foundation believes that a great athlete and a great human being are built together. Our school bursary and trade skills programme give young people the education they deserve — alongside the sport they love.

60+
Children on School Bursaries
8+
Trade School Scholarships
16
Local Coaches Employed
Our Philosophy

Education Is Not an Add-On.
It's the Foundation.

At Rising Stars, we know that sport can open doors — but education keeps them open. That's why every child who comes through our programme has access to a structured, supported education pathway alongside their sporting development.

Our school bursary and trade skills sponsorship programme exists to remove the financial barriers that stop talented young people from getting the education they deserve. Whether a child is destined for a university degree or a skilled trade, we are here to support that journey from day one.

In partnership with Generation School Imhoff and the Next Gen Skills College, we provide not just tuition — but accommodation, meals, training and mentoring as part of a fully supported programme.

Rising Stars bursary students
Our Programmes

Two Pathways. One Mission.

Whether your passion is academia, sport or a skilled trade — we have a programme built around you.

🎓

School Bursary Programme

Full school bursaries for students who show exceptional academic potential or elite sporting ability — or both.

Our school bursaries are awarded to two types of young people. First, those who demonstrate a strong academic baseline with the potential to go further — whether that means completing their schooling, pursuing a degree, or accessing higher education through the guidance of the Foundation and Generation School.

Second, those who show a high level of sporting ability and are accepted into our High Performance Centre at Rising Stars HQ — where they combine elite sport training with a full education programme.

This is not just a fee waiver. Most of our bursaries are fully comprehensive.

  • ✓ Full school tuition covered
  • ✓ On-campus accommodation for qualifying students
  • ✓ Full feeding and nutrition programme
  • ✓ Access to the Rising Stars High Performance training programme
  • ✓ Mentoring and academic support from the Foundation
  • ✓ Pathway guidance toward university or professional sport
🔧

Trade Skills Sponsorship

A practical, life-changing programme that equips young people with real, employable skills and connects them to work.

Our trade skills programme is built around a simple belief — that a skilled trade is a powerful foundation for life. In partnership with the Next Gen Skills College at Generation School, students gain hands-on training in general maintenance and other practical disciplines.

This programme is made possible through the generous support of the van der Horst family, who fund the sponsorships and make it possible for young people from our community to access vocational training that would otherwise be out of reach.

We don't just train them — we connect them to work.

  • ✓ Full trade skills training at Next Gen Skills College
  • ✓ Hands-on practical curriculum in general maintenance
  • ✓ Funded by the van der Horst family
  • ✓ Job placement support through our network of supporting businesses
  • ✓ Mentoring throughout the programme
  • ✓ Pathway into sustainable, long-term employment
Who Can Apply

Who Are We Looking For?

Our bursaries are awarded based on potential, character and circumstances — not just grades or ability alone.

📖

Strong Academic Potential

Students from under-resourced backgrounds who show a clear academic drive and the potential to go further with the right support and environment around them.

⚽

Elite Sporting Ability

Young athletes identified through our football or basketball programmes who have the talent to reach the highest levels and are committed to combining sport with education.

🔧

Trade Skills Candidates

Young people who are motivated to learn a practical skill, build a career and contribute to their community — regardless of their academic background.

🌍

Community Background

All candidates must come from under-resourced communities around Cape Town where financial barriers would otherwise prevent access to quality education.

Rising Stars bursary student Rising Stars bursary students
Our Partners

Who Makes This Possible

🏫

Generation School Imhoff

Our home and our anchor. Generation School provides the school bursaries, the campus, and the educational infrastructure that makes this entire programme possible. A special thank you to CEO Jevron Epstein, who opened these doors for Rising Stars from day one and gave 20 fully funded bursaries to get the project started in August 2024.

🔧

Next Gen Skills College

Part of the Generation School family, Next Gen Skills College delivers the hands-on trade skills training for our sponsorship programme — equipping young people with real, practical skills in general maintenance and beyond.

💛

The van der Horst Family

The generous funders behind our trade skills sponsorship programme. Their commitment to giving young people from our communities access to vocational training and employment is making a tangible difference in people's lives every day.

"We have the full pathway available — from the streets of Cape Town to the classrooms, the training pitches and ultimately the stadiums of the world. Now we nurture the talent, give them the education, and create great human beings."
— Richard McEnery, Founder — Rising Stars Foundation

Know Someone Who Qualifies?

If you know a young person who could benefit from our school bursary or trade skills programme, we'd love to hear from you. Get in touch and let's talk.

Register Your Interest → ✉️ Email Us Directly

info@risingstars.co.za  ·  Rising Stars HQ, Kommetjie, Cape Town, 7975