Christel House International provides education that integrates rigorous academic learning with nutrition and healthcare, life skills, social support, and development to children, transforming lives and communities worldwide. We sat down with S’mamkele Labane, Vice President of Marketing at Christel House International to talk about education, poverty, and technology:
Education is described as the most powerful tool to break poverty. What has Christel House’s journey taught you about this truth?
Yes, education is powerful. It’s foundational in the fight against poverty . But it cannot stand alone. That’s what I’ve learned at Christel House. Poverty is multidimensional, and only when we dismantle the many barriers it creates can children truly begin to thrive. At Christel House, combining strong academics with care, nutrition, and a career-pathway ecosystem has done more than enable children to learn, it has levelled the playing field.
What are the biggest challenges learners face, and how does Christel House help bridge those gaps?
A lot is thrown at our students: instability at home, health issues, food insecurity, lack of role models, and the crushing weight of low expectations. The pressure to drop out early is real. We step into these gaps, both big and small. Alongside nutrition, healthcare, social services, and parent and caregiver programmes, students also have someone cheering them on every step of the way. In short, we remove the noise of poverty so that they can hear their own potential loud and clear.
How do you see technology shaping the future of education, especially for disadvantaged communities?
Technology can, of course, be a great equaliser if it is applied wisely and with respect for context. For a child who has never had internet at home, learning coding or robotics at school can be as life-changing as it is daunting. But at Christel House, we’ve seen students from Bangalore, India, to Cape Town, South Africa, mastering drones, coding, and cloud-based tools. For highly under-resourced communities, technology isn’t just about keeping pace with the future, it’s about opening doors to participate in it.
Christel House learners consistently outperform national averages, showing the power of a holistic education model. Their support goes far beyond the classroom, extending into family upliftment, healthcare, and long-term career guidance. This mission resonates deeply with Wonder’s ethos: to use creativity and innovation to make a lasting, positive impact on people’s lives and we are proud to partner with them.