JumpStart Foundation has been recognised as a finalist for the prestigious CSI Legacy Awards in the Best NGO category, a testament to its exceptional work in education and community empowerment across South Africa. Established with the vision of creating equitable access to quality education, the foundation has profoundly impacted early-grade mathematics learning for thousands of young learners nationwide.
Under the leadership of Managing Director Callen Hodgskiss, a Chartered Accountant with over 15 years of commitment to social change, JumpStart Foundation has made remarkable strides. Hodgskiss’s inspiration originates from his upbringing, shaped by a mother who was a teacher and instilled a deep passion for learning, coupled with his volunteering experience at a high school in Dobsonville, where he observed the stark challenges learners faced. These experiences laid the groundwork for JumpStart’s mission: to ensure that all South African children, regardless of socio-economic background, build a strong foundation in mathematics and STEM subjects.
The foundation operates in five provinces, focusing on under-resourced schools in rural and township areas. By prioritising critical early-grade maths skills, JumpStart addresses a major systemic challenge in South Africa, where many learners struggle with mathematics by Grade 4. The organisation’s approach includes pilot testing educational materials and training tailored to the local context, fostering collaborative partnerships with teachers and school management, and recruiting unemployed youth as Educator Assistants to tackle both educational and employment barriers. This integrated model not only strengthens learning outcomes but also empowers communities through meaningful job creation.
JumpStart’s achievements over the past decade are both inspiring and measurable. To date, it has supported over 100,000 learners, with 20,000 students benefiting annually, employed more than 200 Educator Assistants each year, and significantly improved early-grade mathematics outcomes in five provinces. A standout success story is its contribution to the Free State’s Fezile Dabi district, where the foundation’s programme helped achieve the highest maths results in the region. Its interventions have been shown to double learning gains during foundational years, underscoring the transformative potential of its work.
Being named a finalist for the CSI Legacy Awards is both an acknowledgment of JumpStart’s impact and an opportunity to share its insights and expand its reach. The foundation has ambitious plans for the future, including enhancing teacher training through collaborations with tertiary institutions and conducting in-depth research to refine its methodologies and inform broader education policy. With sustained support from stakeholders and funders, JumpStart is well-positioned to scale its initiatives and drive systemic change.
The ripple effects of JumpStart’s work extend far beyond academic achievement. Its programme has enabled Educator Assistants to pursue teaching careers and empowered learners with renewed confidence. For Hodgskiss and his team, these stories of personal transformation validate their efforts and fuel their determination to create a fairer and more inclusive education system.
The foundation calls for deeper collaboration, advocating for a holistic understanding of school environments that addresses curriculum gaps as well as the socio-emotional challenges faced by learners and educators. By viewing NGOs like JumpStart as hubs for research and development, there is immense potential for long-term, meaningful impact.
As the CSI Legacy Awards spotlight initiatives like JumpStart Foundation, they serve as an inspiration to collectively build a brighter and more equitable future for South Africa’s children.
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