By Charmaine Ndlela

A South African education technology platform, Chelo App, is changing the way schools raise funds by connecting them directly with alumni, donors and community members while ensuring that every rand donated is fully traceable through the projects it funds.

In an interview with Inside Education, Chelo App founder and CEO Maketele Khalo said the platform arose from his own frustration after trying to support his former school but finding no simple way to contribute or track how donations were used.

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 “Chelo means to pour. It was really about pouring back into my school and my community,” Khalo said.

The platform, officially registered in July 2023, partners with the SAP Foundation and the Department of Science and Innovation through the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA). Since its launch, Chelo has grown to approximately 200 schools and more than 500 donors across South Africa.

Khalo said the idea originated after travelling from Cape Town to his hometown simply to find out what was happening at his former school.

 “I realised that in a digital age I should be able to know what is happening at my school from anywhere in the world. At the same time, I found that people wanted to donate but had no easy way of doing so or following the impact of their contributions,” he said.

That experience led to the creation of Chelo. Unlike traditional crowdfunding campaigns, schools joining the platform undergo a verification process before being approved. Once registered, they receive a digital wallet that allows alumni and supporters to make once-off or recurring donations, even before a specific fundraising project is launched.

When schools initiate projects, each proposal is vetted before publication and broken into measurable milestones. Payments are made directly to vetted suppliers only after work has been completed and approved by the school, ensuring funds are never withdrawn directly by the institution.

 “The school never really withdraws the money that comes in from the donor. The donations go directly to the supplier once the work is done and the school is happy with the work that’s been completed,” Khalo said.

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To further improve accountability, Chelo App developed NextFinder, a school needs assessment tool that evaluates governance, infrastructure, academic performance, teacher quality and learner support programmes before recommending priority development projects.

According to Khalo, the assessment helps schools identify their most urgent needs while giving donors confidence that projects have been independently assessed.

 “We suggest projects that the school needs to run to improve those areas. We then collect all those projects into a programme and indicate the priority of each project, highlighting those that will have the greatest impact and should be addressed first,” he said.

Beyond fundraising, Khalo said Chelo App aims to strengthen relationships between schools and their former learners by encouraging mentorship, networking and long-term community involvement.

 “We’re targeting alumni of that school, so we’re trying to restore that connection to our communities and make sure there is not only funding but also a shared purpose to positively impact the school,” he said.

Infrastructure projects currently attract the highest levels of support, with many donors choosing to fund renovations, classroom improvements, roofing, ceilings, sanitation facilities and general school maintenance.

 “When people visit a school, the first thing they notice is its condition. A better learning environment inspires learners and creates pride within the community,” he said.

 “We want learners to look forward to going to school and feel inspired by the environment. That, in itself, impacts how a child learns.”

One of the platform’s most significant success stories involves an alumnus who had attempted to support his former school since 2007 but was unable to do so until using the app.

The donor is now funding extensive renovations at Hwiti High School in Mankweng Township, Limpopo, including the installation of a new roof, ceilings and paving.

 “On a personal level for him, is the fact that he’s finally able to contribute to his school. For the school and learners, it’s a new environment that’s going to be bright and inspiring,” he said.

 “It shows that individuals are trying to help but are faced with barriers. Now we can make it easier for them to create that impact in our communities.”

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To expand its reach, Chelo App has been working with the South African Principals’ Association (SAPA), education districts and provincial stakeholders while helping schools reconnect with former learners through WhatsApp-based alumni campaigns.

Although the platform currently focuses on South African schools, Khalo said its long-term vision extends beyond the country’s borders.

 “We built Chelo App to solve challenges in education. South Africa is where we started, but we have no limits on where this model can go.”

Looking ahead, Chelo App will introduce new communication tools for alumni, donor management features and school competitions that reward active fundraising and community participation.

 “The campaign we’re going to be running is called the ‘Chelo No Limits’ campaign, which will operate through the app itself. It will focus on different types of projects and allow schools to compete based on their performance on the platform for sponsored prizes. We want to reward schools that actively engage their communities and drive successful fundraising projects,” he said.

Visit cheloapp.com to start your funding.

INSIDE EDUCATION

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