The first time learners at Eqinisweni Secondary School in Ivory Park walked into their new school hall, they were not just entering a building. For many, it felt like stepping into a future shaped by dignity, possibility and belief.
The Trevor Noah Foundation (TNF) has unveiled a brand-new hall at the school, giving learners a dignified, safe space to learn, gather and write exams – something the school has never had before. For a community long affected by overcrowded classrooms and poor facilities, the hall is more than just a structure.
The project, delivered in partnership with YouthBuild South Africa through the Faranani Infrastructure Project (FIP), is a direct response to South Africa’s ongoing school infrastructure crisis, especially in historically disadvantaged areas like Ivory Park.
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‘It represents possibility, dignity, and belief’
For the Trevor Noah Foundation, the project was never only about bricks and cement.
Olona Tywabi, Communications Manager at the Foundation, told Drum that the hall carries a deeper meaning.
“It represents possibility, dignity, and belief in young people. Infrastructure is never just about structures; it’s about creating environments where learners can feel valued, safe, and inspired to reach their full potential,” she said.
Founded on Trevor Noah’s deep belief in education as a catalyst for change, the Foundation is driven by the idea that learning is the seed from which everything grows. The organisation works to enhance equitable access to quality education, youth skills development, and thriving school communities across historically disadvantaged African communities.
At Eqinisweni Secondary, the need for such an intervention was pressing.
Overcrowding, no exam space – and a hall that changes everything
Before the project, overcrowding at the school forced learners to move desks and chairs between classrooms. There was no proper, dedicated space for writing exams or for school gatherings.
The new hall now provides:
- A dignified, functional learning environment
- A safe, central space for exams, assemblies and programmes
- A place where learners can focus, dream and imagine futures beyond their circumstances
“A conducive learning space changes how learners experience education. As our Managing Director, Shalane Yuen, said, ‘This hall is not just a structure – it’s a symbol.’ It stands as proof that when we invest in young people and trust communities to lead their own development, extraordinary things happen,” Tywabi said.
Built by the youth, for the youth
What makes the project particularly powerful is not just what was built, but who built it.
Through the Faranani Infrastructure Project (FIP), the Foundation placed NEET youth at the centre of the build – young people not in education, employment or training.
“Placing NEET youth at the centre of this project was both a practical and philosophical decision. Instead of seeing unemployed young people as a problem to be solved, we saw them as part of the solution,” Tywabi explained.
Local youth from Ivory Park and surrounding areas were:
- Trained and employed to construct the hall
- Given accredited technical skills in:
- Bricklaying
- Carpentry
- Plumbing
- Electrical work
- General construction
Beyond technical skills, they also received:
- Life skills training
- Workplace-readiness coaching
- Mentorship
“Many entered the programme with little to no work experience and left with formal qualifications, like on-site experience, professional references, and the confidence to register and open their own companies.
Tywabi shared that the impact extends beyond employability.
“Participants didn’t just learn to build walls; they learned that they are capable of building futures,” she said.
A hall that belongs to the whole community
The new hall has quickly become more than just a school facility. It is now a shared community space, strengthening ties between learners, educators, parents and residents of Ivory Park.
“This hall is not only a place for exams and assemblies — it’s a venue for community meetings, events, celebrations and learning programmes. When communities see a beautiful, functional structure built by their own young people, it builds pride and belonging,” Tywabi said.
Since its completion, the reaction from the community has been deeply emotional.
“Learners now have a dignified space to learn and gather. Educators finally have facilities that match their commitment to teaching. Parents are proud not only of the hall but of the fact that it was built by their own children and neighbours. There’s a strong sense that this is Ivory Park’s achievement,” Tywabi said.
Inspired by a 12-year-old’s vision
The project was also shaped by the vision of a 12-year-old boy named Pierre, whose passion for uplifting Ivory Park left a strong mark on the Foundation’s approach.
Pierre’s story reminded the team that young people often understand their own challenges better than anyone else.
“Rather than imposing ideas from the outside, we listened. This project is a testament to how seriously we take those voices,” Tywabi said.
By centring the voices of young people like Pierre, and placing unemployed youth at the heart of the construction work, the Foundation turned an infrastructure build into a wider project of community ownership and empowerment.
Scaling the model: Ivory Park as the beginning
Looking ahead, the Trevor Noah Foundation hopes the Eqinisweni hall will stand as a lasting symbol of what is possible when communities are trusted and invested in.
In 2025, TNF launched the Khulani Nathi Infrastructure Fund (KNIF) to scale this model and tackle critical infrastructure needs in under-resourced schools nationwide. The aim is to repeat and expand the Ivory Park experience in many more communities across the country.
For the Foundation, Ivory Park is not a once-off story – it is a starting point.
“When a child walks into a safe, beautiful space, they receive an unspoken message: you are valued, your education matters, your future matters. We want this hall to be more than a building — we want it to be a catalyst,” Tywabi said.
From a school that once struggled even to find space for exams, Eqinisweni Secondary now has a hall that reflects the hopes of its learners, the work of its young builders and the belief of a foundation that sees education as the root of change. For many in Ivory Park, that hall is a daily reminder that their community can build – and own – its future.
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