The KIKA Trust was founded in 2011 by Cathy Schincariol & Amanda Cromhout, who shared a passion and vision to provide a holistic education for financially disadvantaged scholars, who without our support are missing out on a quality education. To achieve this goal KIKA is a registered section 18A PBO. We raise funds through a variety of means: Company donations as part of their CSI, individual donors and small fundraising events. Our greatest success has been matching sponsors to scholars, where the sponsor is able to commit to providing full financial support for the scholar’s educational needs for the duration of their time at High School. We strive to build a strong relationship between ourselves, the sponsor and the scholar.
As of July 2025, we have 14 young ladies on full scholarship at various schools in Cape Town, and another 13 who have completed secondary education through us on full scholarship. In addition to these full scholarships we were also able to provide a further 280 learners with uniforms, books and stationery.
A full scholarship includes everything a scholar may need for the entire school year, consisting of school fees, transport, uniforms, books and stationery. We aim to provide additional maths and science lessons especially from Grade 10 if a learner chooses these subjects.
We have recently implemented a SISTERHOOD mentorship programme. All of our beneficiaries have been partnered with a mentor. Our mentors are a group of professional women working in law, accounting and marine sciences who have a passion in life for mentoring young people. We have carefully tried to align interests and hobbies between the mentors and mentees. We meet once a term as a whole KIKA group for a fun and enjoyable outing. The mentors and mentees keep contact and meet more frequently. The goal is to form a “big sister little sister” relationship of gentle guidance and support with someone who is where our beneficiaries hope to be one day in the future.
We want our girls to thrive during their time with us, and encourage them to do as well as they can personally as well as academically. They have the opportunity to join in all areas of school life that interest them and are supported in trying new opportunities. Our mutual goal is for our KIKA beneficiaries to become strong, confident, empathetic young women, who have the ability to pursue their chosen careers and become role models and leaders in their community.
S C H O L A R S H I P S
KIKA currently has 14 fully sponsored beneficiaries in school, whose scholarship includes school fees, all transport costs, school uniforms, as well as their books and stationery for the entire school year. Additional weekly maths and science workshops are also available through our partner, Elite Tutors. and, where possible we like to also include camps, sports tours and other outings.
Our scholars are identified through schools or our partner associations. They are chosen because they have real potential, are hard working and academically consistent, they have excelled in their school or club, have shown strong leadership characteristics and have a zest for life and a tenacity to achieve their goals. However through no fault of their own, they are unable to afford the education they deserve.
We build a special relationship with each and every one of our scholars and keep in regular contact. Their needs are individually assessed and checked on an ongoing basis in order to provide additional assistance where necessary, such as data, toiletries, snacks for boarders, extra tuition and counselling.