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It’s fair to say that South Africa’s collective psyche has taken a real battering over the past few weeks.

As we take stock of what was lost and what remains, big-hearted South Africans around the country are asking, “how can we help?”

While some pick up brooms and deliver donations, others are looking further down the line. One of the pillars of our society that needs real strengthening is education.

Four years ago, Crew for a Cause was established by a group of Capetonians in order to do just that.

They pool donations from their members to award bursaries to talented high school students from financially disadvantaged backgrounds.

Small donations from many can make a big difference in the lives of these academically gifted students who are desperate for a chance to shine.

Monthly donations are affordable at just R251 a month (roughly eight coffees or two pizzas), and 100% of the donations go toward the bursary fund.

It’s effortless to sign up, and members receive quarterly updates on how the students are doing at school.

Crew for a Cause is also a registered NPO and PBO, which means that your donations are tax-deductible.

Crew for a Cause currently sends students to four schools in the Western Cape – Wynberg Boys’, Wynberg Girls’, Claremont High, and Norman Henshilwood. With your help, they’d love to expand.

They’ve recently introduced a pod system to enable other groups to come together to assist. If you and a group of friends, family members, or colleagues join up together in your own pod of six or more members, you can sponsor your own student directly.

A pod is simple to set up and hugely rewarding to be involved in, with feedback from the current students showing how grateful they are for the opportunity.

The students are identified whilst in primary school by education professionals who test them in English, maths, natural science, and grit.

If you would like to become a member, or find out more about the organisation, you can mail Matthew at crewforacause@gmail.com or visit crewforacause.co.za.