In a township where 37% of people can't find work, Katlehong Engineering School of Specialisation represents something truly valuable - opportunity. But until recently, that opportunity was constantly threatened by a challenge most of us no longer face, namely keeping the lights on.

 Picture trying to learn welding when the power cuts out mid-lesson, or attempting to complete a technical project when you never know if the equipment will work tomorrow. For the 1 540 students at this specialised school in Ekurhuleni, regular power outages weren't just an inconvenience; they were stealing their future, one blackout at a time.

 All that changed on 1 August, 2025, when the FirstRand Empowerment Foundation (FREF) officially handed over a solar photovoltaic system that now ensures students at Katlehong Engineering School can pursue their technical training without the constant shadow of power cuts.

More than just a school

Katlehong Engineering School serves a community in Ekurhuleni where 26% of the population lives below the poverty line. Unlike traditional high schools, this institution focuses on technical, vocational and artisanal skills - the kind of practical training that can lead directly to employment. For many of the 780 female and 760 male students, it's a lifeline that has the real potential to break the cycle of unemployment and poverty. The school serves as what FREF describes as "a catalytic role in the community," bringing hope where despondency has often dominated.

 Being a technical school means teaching is inherently hands-on and electricity-intensive. Workshops rely on machinery and equipment that simply can't function without reliable power. Every loadshedding slot, and more recently, every unforeseen power cut due to electricity infrastructure challenges, robbed students of valuable learning time and compromised their preparation for the future.

 Recognising the severe impact of this energy insecurity challenge, FREF commissioned Knowledge Pele - a leading social research firm focused on energy communities - to assess the school's needs. Their evaluation revealed that while the school's infrastructure met Department of Basic Education standards, the existing 25kVA transformer was undersized and power resilience was virtually non-existent.

 The solution, designed by Knowledge Pele and funded by FREF, involved upgrading the transformer to 50kVA, fixing existing infrastructure issues and installing a solar PV system with battery backup. The specifications, and costs, were substantial with a 100kVA inverter and 150kWh of battery storage, providing more than enough reliable electricity to meet all the school’s energy needs.

Strategic alignment with FREF’s purpose

This intervention perfectly aligns with FREF's mandate. As a Public Benefit Organisation, the Foundation focuses on reducing poverty and inequality through social investments in education (and other focus areas), particularly for disadvantaged South Africans. The Katlehong project addressed two key areas in particular, namely Quality Education, and Climate Change Response.

 The educational impact is immediate in the form of uninterrupted technical training that enables learners at the school to develop employable skills. The climate change response and environmental benefit is equally significant, shifting the school from carbon-intensive grid electricity to clean, renewable energy, while also ensuring the stability of energy supply to the school. Given that the Katlehong Engineering School student body is 100% African and majority female, this project represents exactly the kind of targeted empowerment that FREF was designed to support.

 Dr Nolulamo Gwagwa, Chairperson of the FirstRand Empowerment Foundation, emphasises the broader significance: "When we invest in schools like Katlehong, we are not only protecting education from the disruptions caused by lingering energy insecurity,” she explains. “We are also showing that climate-smart solutions can be a tool for equality and inclusion, giving children in disadvantaged communities the same chance to learn and succeed as everyone else."

Transformation in practice

The August handover event showcased what transformation looks like in practice. Guests toured the school, watching students demonstrate how reliable power had revolutionised their ability to complete projects and access resources previously out of reach. Importantly, the event didn’t just highlight the new FREF-funded solar installation; it was also a showcase of the school's entrepreneurial spirit. Guests even received a gift of fresh eggs from the school's chicken farm - an enterprise that supplements income while teaching business management skills.

 “This project represents much more than a solution for a single school's energy problems,” says Dr. Gwagwa, “it's a proof of concept that demonstrates how solar power can secure technical education while reducing environmental impact. Possibly most importantly, it’s a model of systemic solutions that unlock long-term opportunity that can be replicated at other specialised schools and public institutions across South Africa. Our hope is that Katlehong becomes a catalyst for broader partnerships, encouraging more investment in schools of specialisation and more innovation in the fight against climate change."

Powering better futures

For students of Katlehong Engineering School who can now power up their machines without fear of outages, the impact is immediate. For their families and communities, the benefits will unfold as graduates find jobs, start businesses and bring income into households that desperately need it.

 “This Katlehong initiative embodies the FirstRand Empowerment Foundation's philosophy that shared prosperity requires intentional action,” Dr Gwagwa emphasises. “By mobilising resources, leveraging partnerships and aligning strategy with social impact, it bridges the gap between education and sustainability, and between immediate short-term relief and lifelong empowerment.”