A young South African entrepreneur is tackling one of the biggest challenges facing public schools by launching a digital platform designed to rebuild trust between donors and the schools they want to support.
Chelo App, founded by Maker Khalo, is reimagining school fundraising by introducing a transparent, technology-driven system that connects schools directly with alumni, local donors and verified service providers, ensuring every contribution can be tracked from donation to project completion.
The platform was developed to address longstanding concerns over financial mismanagement and a lack of accountability, issues that have discouraged many former learners and community members from investing in their schools.
Rather than transferring money directly to schools or individuals, donations are paid to vetted service providers and released only after independent verification that agreed project milestones have been completed.
Khalo said the idea was born from his own unsuccessful attempt to give back to his former school.
“This project was founded on a personal frustration where I myself wanted to donate to my school and I wasn’t able to,” he said.
“When I spoke to my fellow alumni, we all had one thing in common: how can we follow up with this project and know exactly how it went? There’s been so much mismanagement and ambiguity about funds directed to projects.”
He said the platform’s name is derived from the Sepedi words Chela and Mochelo, meaning stepping forward to help and participate in building one’s community.
“We wanted to build something that made giving back through monetary funds safe and meaningful. When you can see exactly what your donation has contributed to, you give again. And you tell others,” Khalo said.
Among the schools embracing the initiative is Merafe Primary School in Soweto, where deteriorating infrastructure has become a major obstacle to learning.
The school has battled leaking classroom roofs for years, with heavy rains disrupting lessons, damaging facilities and prompting some parents to move their children to other schools.
By joining the Chelo App, Merafe Primary hopes to raise enough money to repair its roofs and improve the learning environment.
“During the rainy season, our classrooms suffer terribly from leaking roofs, which constantly disrupts lessons and makes it difficult for learners to focus,” said principal Rebecca Manyathela.
“When infrastructure deteriorates, parents lose confidence and move their children elsewhere. Through the Chelo App, we are hopeful that we can secure the funds needed to repair our buildings, restore a safe learning environment and welcome more learners back to our school.”
Khalo believes restoring confidence is key to unlocking greater community investment in education.
“We believe that when people trust where their money is going, they are more willing to give back. Our goal is to make supporting schools transparent, accountable and impactful.”
Schools, alumni and donors can register projects or contribute through the Chelo App at https://cheloapp.com/
