Before we stepped onto the Good Work Foundation (GWF) campus, I thought I knew what to expect. After all, Rhino Africa has been supporting this organisation since its inception. I knew they were shaking up education in rural South Africa. I knew their programmes were designed to equip students – both children and adults – with skills that could change the course of their lives. But knowing something in theory and seeing it in action are two very different things. As part of our Marketing crew’s trip to the Sabi Sand Game Reserve, we had the chance to experience GWF’s main campus first-hand – deepening our connection to a cause close to our hearts and leaving us truly moved.
Visiting GWF was reminder that meaningful change starts with those willing to invest in the future, Image Credit: Brad Mitchell
A Different Kind of Welcome
There’s something about arriving at the Good Work Foundation that immediately shifts your perspective. Unlike the luxury lodges we would be visiting – where everything is polished to perfection – the campus feels like a hive of movement and purpose.
We were greeted by Kate Groch, GWF’s Founder and CEO, Gemma Thompson, Head of Development, and Verena Wagner, Development Manager. And if you ever need proof that GWF is built on passion, just have a conversation with these three. Listening to Gemma talk about the organisation’s impact, you could see – literally see – the way it affects her. Goosebumps and all.
Stepping into a community fuelled by passion, purpose, and heartfelt connections, Image Credit: Marlin Clark
Kate walked us through GWF’s journey, from its earliest days to where it's now: a network of six digital learning campuses serving communities in Mpumalanga and the Free State.
But this isn’t just about throwing money or resources at education. It’s about tackling the real issues – who has access to learning, what they’re being taught, and whether it will actually help them cultivate a fruitful future.
Vision and action go hand in hand at GWF, where passion drives meaningful change, Image Credit: Marlin Clark
Where Learning Meets Reality
One of the first things you realise at the Good Work Foundation is that education here doesn’t follow the usual rules. School hours? Irrelevant. Take their Open Learning Academy, for example – it collaborates with 29 rural schools to ensure that children who’d otherwise miss out on digital education can learn coding, robotics, and other essential skills beyond the confines of the traditional school day.
GWF is an open door to innovation where every child gets a chance to thrive in the digital age, Image Credit: Marlin Clark
For adults, classes are structured to fit into daily life. Many of them never had the chance to finish school, and instead of making them feel like they’re playing catch-up, GWF meets them where they are. The focus is on what they can do, not what they missed out on.
And it works. Their Bridging Year Academy and Career Academy graduates are sought after by employers – not because they’ve been handed a qualification, but because they’ve been trained for the reality of the workplace. Whether it’s IT, conservation, teaching, or hospitality, they leave with skills that mean something.
The Good Work Foundation is one of Rhino Africa's key Impact Partners
More Than Just Theory
It’s one thing to see students sitting in a digital learning lab, absorbed in their work. But what really drove the impact home was meeting graduates who are now thriving in their careers.
During our time in Sabi Sand Game Reserve, we met former Good Work Foundation students working at some of the most prestigious safari lodges. The confidence they carry, how they handle guests, and the skill and enthusiasm with which they do their jobs – it’s obvious that they haven’t just been taught; they’ve been prepared. And, most importantly, they’re passionate about what they do – which, let’s face it, makes all the difference!
Stepping into the world equipped with confidence, skills, and the determination to succeed, Image Credit: Good Work Foundation
One of the key things that sets GWF apart is its adaptability. If a programme isn’t leading to real job opportunities, they don’t cling to it for the sake of continuity. They refine, they tweak, they evolve. When they saw that basic Microsoft Office training wasn’t enough to get graduates into the workplace, they expanded their digital learning programmes.
Now, they’re incorporating AI training, cybersecurity, hospitality, conservation, and more – not just to keep their students ahead in a rapidly changing world but to give them options. GWF believes in unlocking potential and helping students discover and pursue what truly speaks to them, turning passion into possibility.
It’s practical. It’s strategic. And it’s making a real difference.
GWF thrives on innovation to equip students with skills that open doors to real-world opportunities
An Energy You Can’t Ignore
The atmosphere at the Good Work Foundation is something else. It’s loud, dynamic, and full of movement. Kids laugh as they interact with digital learning tools. Adults focus intently on mastering new skills. Facilitators – many of whom were once students themselves – bring an energy that makes it obvious why this works.
And this enthusiasm isn’t just feel-good energy – it translates into real results. You can see it in the students, but even more so in the graduates who have confidently stepped into the workplace. Employers don’t just want GWF graduates because they tick the right boxes. They want them because they’re driven, skilled, and ready to take on the world.
An unstoppable force of educators, students, and leaders shaping a future filled with opportunity
By the time we left, I found myself thinking about the contrast between the world of luxury safaris and the world we had just stepped into. It’s easy to get caught up in the glamour of high-end travel – five-star lodges, private game drives, impeccable service. But none of that happens by accident.
Behind every seamless guest experience, there are people who have worked incredibly hard to get there. And some of them started their journey right here, at the Good Work Foundation.
At GWF, every interaction aims to inspire, uplift, and ignite a love for learning, Image Credit: Marlin Clark
Standing in the Future
Seeing it all up close – the students, the teachers, the real impact of what Rhino Africa has been supporting for years – was something else. It’s one thing to say, “We support education in rural communities.” It’s another to stand in the middle of a buzzing campus and watch it unfold in front of you.
As we drove away, one thought stuck with me: just as conservation is about protecting the future of Africa’s wildlife, education is about securing the future of its people. And in that way, GWF isn’t just doing good work. They’re shaping what’s next.
Education becomes action, empowering individuals to create a future filled with opportunity
Travel with Purpose
Our visit to Good Work Foundation was a powerful reminder of why we do what we do. At Rhino Africa, we don’t just create life-changing journeys across this extraordinary continent; we invest in its future. By choosing to travel with us, you’re not only immersing yourself in Africa’s breathtaking landscapes – you’re directly supporting initiatives like GWF, which empower rural communities and champion wildlife conservation.
Your journey has the power to make a real difference. Whether it’s conservation, community upliftment, or skills development, every trip booked with Rhino Africa helps create opportunities for those who need them most. So, let’s explore Africa together – and be part of something truly transformative.
Featured Image: Marlin Clark
