ECAG has built more than 3000 classrooms in rural zululand since 1977

Our work

The Eshowe Community Action Group (ECAG) was formed under the Eshowe Rotary umbrella in 1977 by late local farmer Guy Chennells and Prince Gideon Zulu. Together they formed the non-profit organisation with the objective of raising funds to provide classrooms for rural children in Zululand.

Over the past forty years ECAG has built 3000 classrooms which, in turn, has helped to educate approximately 150 000 children. The estimated value of these projects in today’s terms is approximately R450 million. As well as building classrooms ECAG has built toilet blocks, computer rooms, libraries and science laboratories in many of these schools. All of the buildings ECAG has provided over the years are still in daily use, none has ever been vandalized and none re-purposed.

Our mission

Our mission, in partnership with the local communities, parents and the local Education Department is to provide classrooms for rural children in Zululand. As well as to provide education opportunities for all disadvantaged children in rural Zululand. Help them to acquire knowledge, understanding, skills, attitudes and responsibility for life long success, while developing healthy, productive and responsible citizens of society.

Community involvement

In order to receive classrooms ECAG asks that every school that requests help is required to raise and pay a deposit (currently R5 000 per classroom), to level and fence the site, to provide documentation to the effect that the land is unattached, undertake to get water required for building to the site and plant some trees. Local artisans are employed to build the classrooms and many of the community members are used to assist them and to learn construction skills.

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”

President Nelson Mandela