South Africa

Private school for R0.00 with a 99% Matric pass rate and free on-site nurses

Shaun Jacobs • 16 September 2026

Christel House South Africa is a private school that offers free education to its students through a 19-year support programme.

Admission to this programme is entirely needs-based and is designed to break the cycle of generational poverty for children from under-resourced communities.

Located in the Cape Town suburb of Ottery, the school is unique in that it does not charge any fees to its pupils.

While not charging a cent, the school provides a high-quality education, with it averaging a Matric pass rate of 99% since its opening in 2002.

It also has a 95% conversion rate of its alumni being engaged in education, training, or employment after completing studies at the school.

The school retains its non-profit, no-fee structure thanks to the work of its generous founder, Christel DeHaan.

DeHaan founded the school as part of Christel House International, which is a global education network.

Born in Germany in 1942, DeHaan is best known as the co-founder of the travel membership platform Resort Condominiums International (RCI).

RCI was an early example of how technology could create extremely efficient businesses in otherwise capital-intensive industries, such as hospitality.

The company does not own any resorts. Rather, it allows members to own timeshare and trade or “deposit” their owned weeks or points to stay at different, affiliated properties around the world.

DeHaan founded the company with her husband, Jon, in 1974 and became its leader after his health complications in 1979.

She led the company’s expansion into a global giant with offices in 38 countries before selling it for $825 million in 1996. This is equivalent to $1.76 billion in today’s money.

After the sale of RCI, DeHaan became interested in philanthropy and particularly in ways to break the cycle of generational poverty.

This resulted in an intensive study of how one breaks out of poverty and the best ways to use philanthropy to do so.

Christel House

DeHaan’s search for how to break generational poverty led her to education, which is one of the most powerful ways to uplift people.

This resulted in the creation of Christel House International in 1998, which is a non-profit organisation focused on educating children from under-resourced communities.

DeHaan developed a comprehensive educational model that integrates academics with healthcare, nutrition, family assistance, and career guidance.

Personally funding the operational and administrative expenses of Christel House, DeHaan ensured that 100% of donations went to student programmes.

Prior to her passing in June 2020 at the age of 77, DeHaan established schools in South Africa, Mexico, India, Jamaica, and the United States.

Unlike traditional schools, Christel House does not offer a standalone education programme. Instead, it supports learners through a 19-year support model.

In this way, the school supports learners from pre-school (Grade RR) through Grade 12. It also supports them for five years post-matric, whether they pursue tertiary education or employment.

The school’s day-to-day timetable also looks vastly different to its traditional peers, with extended learning days and 30% more time spent on core subjects such as maths and languages.

Christel House South Africa also has a strong focus on technology and science, offering courses in coding and robotics to students.

Learners receive daily meals designed to be as nutritious as possible, along with medical check-ups and dental care on the school’s dime.

On-site social workers, nurses, and counsellors offer trauma-informed care to help learners navigate community violence and economic stress.

The school’s post-matric support also makes it unique, with alumni receiving career counselling and financial support for five years after graduation.

Admission to Christel House is purely needs-based, with it targeting children from households experiencing financial hardship in the Cape Flats.

Parents must also commit to an active partnership in their child’s education journey through the engagement programmes.