The Gem Project, a non-profit in Nelson Mandela Bay, addresses South Africa's high school dropout rates by equipping grade 7 students with skills for the primary-to-secondary transition. Through its Finding Your Feet programme, the initiative reaches thousands of learners across multiple schools. Programme coordinator Keith Brandt highlights the urgency, noting children seen begging instead of attending school.
The Gem Project began in 2015 as a soup kitchen and has grown to emphasize youth development and education in Nelson Mandela Bay. It targets the critical shift from primary to high school, where many learners struggle, amid national data showing that about one-third of young people do not finish 12 years of schooling. The Department of Basic Education's 2025 National Senior Certificate Examination Report indicates that only 49% of grade 10 students from 2023 advanced to grade 12 by 2025.
The organisation's Finding Your Feet programme supports grade 7 learners by building confidence and addressing high school challenges. It operates in over 20 primary schools, including those in Walmer, Seaview, Gelvandale, Jacksonville, and Zwide, visiting in May and August to engage about 2,400 students annually. Sessions cover adaptation, problem-solving, and behavior in new environments, without teachers present to encourage open discussion.
At Triomf Primary School in Bethelsdorp, deputy principal Edward Louis noted the programme's two-year run and its integration into the school calendar. "All our grade 7 learners participate in it," Louis said, explaining that it supplements limited school time focused on academics. He added that true effects will appear in high school but the content offers immediate guidance.
Danielle Seloane, a grade 7 teacher at Machiu Primary School in Salt Lake, reported positive learner feedback. "As teachers, we just build on the foundation that is laid," she said, praising its role in discussing anxieties often sidelined until late in the year. Former students return excited about high school, despite initial nerves and heavier workloads.
Beyond school preparation, The Gem Project aids dropouts with CV writing, interview skills, and job partnerships. Brandt observed, "You see all these matriculants rejoicing when they pass, but the next year they’re sitting at home because they have no idea what to do next." The group also maintains seven soup kitchens and food gardens.