Pursuing a future where education inspires communities to achieve positive social change
ABOUT US
Founded in an era of deep division, ELET began its journey in 1984 – more than 40 years ago – as an organisation that sought to challenge an unequal and unjust system by championing education as a tool of empowerment.
Established as the Anglovaal English Language Centre by Anglovaal Ltd and led by the visionary Mervin Ogle, the organisation has through the decades responded creatively to the various challenges and opportunities that have accompanied South Africa’s journey from the days of apartheid to the present.
Early years
During the initial years, the organisation focused on community building through teacher development, emphasising English language skills as a means of empowerment.
Post-democracy
After 1994, it reassessed its mission to address the evolving educational landscape, emphasising key focus areas: Language Education, Environmental and Health Education, and Entrepreneurship and Life Skills Education.
Present and future
In 2007, the name Environment and Language Education Trust was officially adopted to better reflect the organisation’s commitment to environmental education and sustainable development and ending poverty cycles. Our approach is primarily based on capacity building of individuals at grass roots level, prioritising the provision of educational, entrepreneurial and employment opportunities for rural women and youth.
We prioritise the provision of educational, entrepreneurial and employment opportunities for rural women and youth. As an education development institution, we recognise that all our country’s social ills are invariably linked. ELET is committed to ending this cycle of poverty. Therefore, our approach is primarily based on capacity building of individuals at grass roots level.
ELET is governed by a board of trustees, who broadly represent the fields of Education and the Environment. The function of the Board is to provide guidance in policy formulation and financial oversight.
PASSION
PURPOSE
Building stronger communities by implementing skills and training programs that create opportunities and foster development
FOOTPRINT
ELET has implemented numerous projects since its incorporation in geographically diverse areas within the borders of South Africa.
SERVICES
Our primary focus is on Learner Support, Teacher Development, Early Childhood Development Learnership programs, Literacies and Environmental Education and Rehabilitation.
Our principal accreditation includes ETDPSETA, QCTO and AGRISETA.
Our services are broadly categorised into 3 core pillars:
ORGANOGRAM
This framework ensures efficient operations, clear lines of communication, and effective collaboration among the motivated team at ELET.
THEORY OF CHANGE
Driven by a deep commitment to improving the lives of its beneficiaries, ELET has developed a robust Theory of Change model. This strategic framework outlines the causal pathways through which the organisation’s interventions lead to desired outcomes. With a passionate and dedicated team at our core, we are committed to creating change.
Sustainable Development Goals
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a universal call to action adopted by the United Nations to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure peace and prosperity for all by 2030. The creation of 17 world SDGs provide the critical global blueprint for a sustainable future.
ELET is committed to advancing SDGs through our programmes. Our mission of providing quality education (SDG 4) and literacies unlocks opportunities and enhances lifelong learning. By offering entrepreneurship training and STEM-focused skills like coding and robotics, we contribute to decent work and economic growth (SDG 8) and reduce inequalities.
Our focus on community well-being, water purification, and greening supports zero hunger (SDG 2), clean water (SDG 6), and climate action (SDG 13). This further demonstrates our holistic commitment to a sustainable and equitable future for all.
PARTNERS
ELET’s success is largely attributable to our strong partnerships and collaborations.
These partnerships have enabled us to access specialised knowledge, resources, and networks, leading to greater impact and sustainability. By working together with other organisations, we can achieve more than we could on our own, fostering a stronger community and creating positive change.
ACCREDITATION/ ENDORSEMENTS
Quality and recognition are vital in assuring you of the high standards and valuable outcomes of our programmes.
MEMBERSHIPS
Our memberships with key organisations reflect our commitment to best practices, shared learning, and a stronger collective impact within the education and non-profit sectors.
FUNDERS
Funders are crucial to ELET’s success. Their financial support enables us to
implement programs, expand our reach, sustain operations, leverage resources,
and demonstrate effectiveness. We are ever grateful for the support which
propels ELET to make a tangible difference in the lives of individuals and
communities in our country.
POLICIES
Our policies have been created to promote integrity, accountability and professionalism in our work. Our policies are:
- Financial Management Policy
- Child Protection Policy
- Risk Management Policy
- Transformation Policy
- IT Policy
Policies will be made available on request
PROTECTION OF PERSONAL INFORMATION (POPI)
As an organisation that values trust and security, we are fully committed to compliance with South Africa’s Protection of Personal Information (POPI) Act. This law is designed to regulate the way all public and private entities handle personal data, recognising an individual’s information as “precious goods” over which they have fundamental rights and control.
ELET is obligated to handle your personal information responsibly. Our key commitments under the POPI Act include:
- Necessity: We will only collect the information we need for a specific, defined purpose.
- Security: We apply reasonable security measures to protect the information we hold against loss or unauthorized access.
- Quality: We ensure that your information is relevant and up-to-date.
- Retention: We only hold information for as long as it is needed to fulfil our obligations.
- Access: We allow the subject of the information (the owner) to see their data upon request.
Note on Consent: By engaging with ELET (applying for a learnership or registering for a program), you provide consent for the responsible processing of your personal information, which is necessary for ELET to provide its services.