Every dream
needs someone
to walk beside it

We walk with the children, youth and women of South Africa's under-served communities. From the school gate to the first pay cheque, and beyond.

Cape Town, South Africa  ·  Est. 2016  ·  NPO 182-619

Started in 2016.
Still walking.

Lady Stellar is a registered non-profit that walks alongside children, youth and women in South Africa's marginalised communities.

The work began in 2016 with community development, youth work and skills training in Cape Town. Today it runs through five pathways: education, entrepreneurship, work placements, community leadership and digital access.

We are registered with the Department of Social Development as NPO 182-619. A board of five office bearers meets quarterly, two signatures authorise every payment, and an independent accountant handles our reporting.

A mentor and a teenage girl reading a workbook together at a community centre table
To walk alongside every child and young person in marginalised communities, unlocking their potential, nurturing their talents, and guiding them towards realising their dreams.
Our vision, from the Lady Stellar constitution
Founded
2016
NPO number
182-619
Pathways
5
Board members
5

Five pathways,
one journey

Each programme answers one question: what does this young person need next?

School learners raising their hands in a bright classroom

Education & bursaries

School support, bursaries and training places for learners who would otherwise go without.

A young woman arranging goods at her small market stall

Entrepreneurship

Practical support for women-owned businesses and young people starting their first venture.

A young man shaking hands with a supervisor on his first day at work

Work placements

Learnerships, workplace placements and work-integrated learning that turn study into a first job.

Young people in discussion at a community hall

Community leadership

Leadership programmes that grow the next generation of local leaders, from the community up.

Two teenagers sharing a laptop at a library desk

Digital access

Technology and training that close the digital divide, one household at a time.

  • Registered NPO 182-619
  • Board of five
  • Quarterly reviews
  • Section 18A for donors

We call it
walking the journey

Not a programme with an exit date. A path we stay on together, step by step.

  1. 1

    Meet & listen

    Every journey starts with a conversation. We meet children and families where they are and listen first.

  2. 2

    Support at school

    Mentorship and steady support for school-going children, so no one falls through the cracks.

  3. 3

    Open the doors

    Bursaries, scholarships and training placements that make the next step affordable.

  4. 4

    First pay cheque

    Learnerships and workplace placements that turn qualifications into employment.

  5. 5

    Build something

    Micro-enterprises, artisan training and support for women starting their own businesses.

  6. 6

    Lead the way

    Yesterday's learners become tomorrow's leaders, walking beside the next child in the queue.

Listen  →  Learn  →  Earn  →  Lead.
The journey ends where it began: with someone walking beside a child.

A playroom
in Gugulethu

Approved by the board in October 2025 as our first official community project. Small, visible and finished properly.

The place
A local church in Gugulethu, Cape Town
The work
A safe, bright playroom for the community's children
The partners
William Grant & Sons and Edward Snell & Co

Big hearts,
proper governance

Donors ask hard questions. Good. Here is what we can show you.

  • Partnerships

    We work with individuals, communities and organisations, never around them.

  • Integrity & accountability

    Transparency in how we manage resources and deliver on our mission.

  • Inclusivity & diversity

    Equal opportunity regardless of gender, background or ability.

  • Empowerment

    People become self-sufficient agents of change, not recipients of charity.

  • Compassion & respect

    We serve with care, dignity and empathy. Always.

Registration

  • NPO 182-619, Department of Social Development
  • Registered as Lady Stellar NPC
  • CIPC and SARS compliance handled by an appointed accountant

The board

  • Liefie Molefi Leisa, Chairperson
  • Rene Vita Cross, Vice Chairperson
  • Krishanta Masher, Secretary
  • Christopher Stephen Phillips, Deputy Secretary
  • Carmen Lynette Cornelius, Treasurer

For donors

  • Section 18A certificates issued, so donations are tax deductible
  • Two board signatures authorise every payment
  • All funds used solely for the objectives of Lady Stellar NPC
  • Full report on activities and finances at each AGM

Every journey starts
with hello

Fund a bursary. Host a learner. Paint a playroom with us. Or simply follow the journey and cheer from the side of the road.

Follow the journey

Give with confidence

Section 18A tax certificates for every donation.
Two board signatures on every payment.

The organisation

Lady Stellar NPC
NPO 182-619
Cape Town, South Africa