 launched a five-year In-School Breakfast Programme in the Hazyview district of Mpumalanga, with one clear purpose: to nourish young learners so they can learn, grow, and thrive.

Now at the halfway mark, the programme continues to create meaningful change for learners and the wider school community.

In 2024, an independent research study by the Food Evolution Research Laboratory at the University of Johannesburg assessed the programme’s early impact across eight participating schools. The findings confirmed improved learner concentration, energy levels, and overall wellbeing over time. Teachers also reported greater alertness and improved classroom participation — showing the value of a nutritious start to the day.

Beyond nutrition, the programme has also supported community upliftment. To date, 45 local community members have received accredited training and employment as Food Handlers and Food Monitors, with several going on to secure permanent jobs or further their studies.

With two years still ahead, we remain committed to deepening our impact and helping every child reach their full potential.

Three Years of Impact

Week after week, some of South Africa’s most beloved celebrities stepped up to the podium to take on the Banker on Season 2 of

 — and they didn’t just play for the thrill of it. They played for purpose.

This season, their courage and big energy turned into real impact for two incredible charities.

, helping children living with limb differences get the prosthetic support they need to walk, run and take on life with confidence.

, strengthening their programmes that help people rebuild their lives out of homelessness through recovery support, skills and long-term independence.

What made this season special wasn’t just the suspense, it was seeing how every brave choice on screen created a moment of possibility off screen.
A little fun. A little tension. And a whole lot of heart.

Season 2 didn’t just entertain
Watch this space for the next two new charities and the contestants who will be playing for them this year

A Season of Surprises and Impact

In a quiet suburb of Alberton, one home has become a haven of hope. Behind its doors, Lynn Tyack, founder of 

, has opened her heart and home to children in desperate need of care, stability, and love.

Since 2013, Lynn’s home has been a place of safety for 44 abandoned and abusedchildren, each finding comfort, protection, and belonging under her care. Some stayed for a few months, others for years and a few, forever. Among them were premature twins who thrived under her care until adoption, and a little girl with Down Syndrome and a serious heart condition, whom Lynn has fostered since she was six weeks old. She currently cares for six children, with a newborn arriving in January 2026.

Lynn’s journey is one of resilience, compassion, and faith. After losing her mother in 2013, she’s dedicated her life to creating a safe space for children who had nowhere else to go. “This calling fuelled my soul,” she says. “It gave me a sense of purpose and belonging where I had once felt emptiness.”

Every day brings challenges from meeting the emotional needs to ensuring they receive proper medical care, nutrition, and stability. Yet Lynn continues, driven by love and the belief that every child deserves a fair start in life.

Over the past three years, The Star Foundation has been honoured to support Lynn’s mission to restore dignity, safety, and hope for children who’ve faced unimaginable circumstances, ensuring she has the essentials needed to continue her vital work.

Lynn’s story reminds us that love given freely and consistently, can truly change lives.

A Heart for Every Child

For many children, the simple joy of running, playing, or walking to school is taken for granted. But for those living with limb loss, these everyday moments can feel out of reach. Through our partnership with 

 is helping to change that reality one step, one prosthetic, one child at a time.

In the first year, our collaboration supported 12 children through access to advanced prosthetic equipment and specialised care. Each child’s prosthesis is uniquely fitted to match their lifestyle and age, empowering them to move freely and participate in life just like their peers. What began as a monthly commitment of R50,000 per child has grown into a journey of transformation — not just for the children, but for their families, too.

Now, in our second year of support (March 2025 – February 2026), our commitment has deepened, ensuring ongoing maintenance, refitting’s, and full replacements as these children grow stronger and more active. At the same time, new beneficiaries will join the programme, expanding Jumping Kids’ reach to even more communities across South Africa.

This partnership is more than an investment in mobility — it’s an investment in dignity, independence, and future potential. Each prosthetic leg represents courage, innovation, and the power of collaboration to create lasting change.

Together with Jumping Kids, we’re not only helping children walk again — we’re helping them move confidently toward the future they deserve.

Jumping Kids

Across four radio stations and four incredible charities, 

 delivered unforgettable moments, life-changing wins, and waves of impact across South Africa.

What made this campaign truly special wasn’t just the excitement on air, but the difference it created off air. From 

, listeners tuned in, played along, and showed up with heart — with every entry supporting a charity making a meaningful difference in its community, turning festive fun into tangible support and lasting hope.

Together, we raised a total of R7,547,500.

Here’s how listeners rallied behind each cause:


Gauteng listeners helped extend the reach of one of South Africa’s most loved outreach initiatives, enabling urgent relief and everyday acts of kindness for families facing unexpected challenges.


On 947, support poured in for Save Seven and their Life Pod Project — advancing life-saving intervention for organ transplants and helping expand access to more provinces across South Africa.


In KZN, listeners showed up day after day to support The Big Favour, making it possible for the programme to continue helping people through some of life’s toughest moments.


In the Western Cape, listeners supported a charity that strengthens paediatric care across the country, helping ensure children have access to the medical support they need.

Listeners won big, but South Africa won even bigger by backing causes that uplift thousands of lives.

Thank you to every player, every partner, and every charity who helped make 

Santa's Stash 2025

In every classroom, behind every smile, there’s a story one of resilience, healing, and hope. This year, in the heart of Bonnievale, those stories found new beginnings through the care and compassion made possible by our partnership with 

Where once the ratio for state social workers stood at 1:23,000, it has now improved to 1:440, thanks to the dedication of local youth trained as Care Facilitators in Mental Health First Aid — all of whom graduated this year as Social Auxiliary Workers equipped with the skills to serve the very communities they come from.

Throughout the year, learners have grown in confidence and emotional awareness, educators have received vital support, and schools have embraced the message that mental wellbeing is the foundational pre-requisite for effective learning and thriving.

Through CK’s Care Programme, new opportunities were created for young women in the community to become Care Facilitators, working alongside Care Practitioners to offer vital support to learners and educators through their twinning model.

“CK means an incredible amount to our school and community. We can’t imagine what it was like without you. Thank you for knowing what to do and stepping in when we needed you the most.” 

“The work of Community Keepers is only possible with the wholehearted buy-in and support of our partner schools and funders. Thank you to The Star Foundation for your trust, time, and care. We value this partnership deeply and celebrate what we have achieved together for the wellbeing of learners and school communities.”

As 2025 draws to a close, we reflect with deep gratitude on a year that has transformed the education journeys of over 3,000+ learners in the region. By bringing mental health support to 11 schools in the Bonnievale cluster, this year has been all about ensuring that every child now has access to a safe space and a trusted person to turn to every single day. Together, we’re building a legacy of care, dignity, and hope.

Community Keepers

Some days sparkle a little brighter—and Tuesday, 30 September was one of them.

At the Conservatory in Rosebank, Market Day brought together three incredible organizations—

—for a celebration of creativity, courage, and community. The building was alive with music, and the unmistakable energy of people doing what they love.

From the moment the music started playing. and the dance steps hit the ground, you could feel it was going to be special. Sally’s Workshop opened with a choreographed dance and singing by their talented performers, followed by a poetry reading that was both moving and empowering.

“From handwoven bags to original artwork and more, every item on the tables was crafted with care and pride. Potted succulents and freshly grown vegetables added a touch of green to the scene. Just a few steps away, the delicious smell of hotdogs filled the air, prepared by the beneficiaries of Sally’s Workshop. Through these micro-enterprises the workshop’s beneficiaries are able to earn an income, making the project sustainable and helping to support the running of the workshop.”

And that wasn’t all. Little Eden and Bethany Home brought their own magic to the day. From homegrown pecan nuts to beautifully handmade laptop bags, salt scrubs, and more the diversity of products reflected the diversity of the people behind them.

Market Day was a chance for beneficiaries to put their skills into action—selling products they’ve made, building confidence, and learning what it’s like to run a small business. These micro-enterprises will continue to be nurtured and developed beyond the day itself, but this first step—filled with practice, learning, and even a little seed money—was a powerful beginning.

Stay tuned throughout November as we share more about each of these incredible organizations and the inspiring work they do.

At the Conservatory

R100,000 donation gives 14-year-old Felicity a chance at a pain-free, independent future

 contributed R100,000 towards the surgery of 14-year-old Felicity Ncube, who has been diagnosed with severe scoliosis – a painful curvature of the spine that threatens her mobility and independence.

Felicity’s journey is one of remarkable courage. Born without arms or legs and abandoned shortly after birth, she was taken in by 

, a place of safety and love for abandoned children. Despite her challenges, Felicity has learned to move around independently, hopping and using her wheelchair to navigate life with determination and joy.

Now facing a new obstacle, Felicity requires urgent spinal surgery to relieve pain and prevent her condition from worsening. Thanks to the generosity of compassionate doctors and medical professionals offering their services 

, and the support of caring partners, she will soon undergo a procedure that will transform her quality of life.

She dreams of becoming a motivational speaker one day, using her story to inspire others to rise above hardship and embrace hope. Her courage reminds us all that strength is not defined by circumstance, but by spirit.

Because every story of hope deserves a helping hand.

Empowering Felicity

Emergency Surgery Project Delivers Life-Changing Care at Groote Schuur Hospital

 has made remarkable strides in delivering emergency orthopaedic surgeries to trauma patients who would otherwise face long delays.

 project set out to deliver 70 additional emergency theatre lists over 12 months. With R1.8 million in funding from LottoStar to the 

, the project is on track to support 60 lists.

From June to September, 16 emergency theatre lists were completed, resulting in 53 patients receiving surgery—exceeding the estimated average of three patients per list. A total of 56 procedures were performed, including multi-stage operations for 12 patients. The most common surgeries involved ankle and upper-limb fracture fixations, reflecting the high incidence of trauma-related injuries.

Despite scheduling and staffing constraints during the winter months, the surgical team is actively trailing additional weekend lists and doubling up weekly sessions to close the gap and accelerate delivery.

The patients treated during this period came from a wide range of communities across Cape Town highlighting the importance of ensuring equal access to emergency care for all.

“The Emergency Surgery lists have made a massive difference to our waiting times for orthopaedic trauma cases. We manage to process an additional 3+ patients every week thanks to the additional weekly list.” — 

Maritz Laubscher, Associate Professor, Trauma Limb Reconstruction

This initiative has not only helped more patients get the surgeries they need, but it’s also reduced waiting times and allowed the hospital to treat more trauma cases each week transforming lives through timely care.

We are proud to partner with Groote Schuur Hospital and look forward to seeing the full impact of this project unfold in the months ahead.

Groote Schuur

The PureFlow Amanzi initiative is now being implemented in rural KwaZulu-Natal, delivering filters, WASH education, and life-changing access to safe water.

From Competition to Clean Water