A neatly stacked tower of brightly colored hardcover children’s books, each spine showing bold, imaginative titles about reading, logic puzzles, and critical thinking, arranged on a smooth light-wood desk. Next to the stack sits a tidy row of freshly sharpened pencils, a small chrome desk clock, and an open notebook filled with neatly drawn diagrams and word games. Soft daylight from an unseen window washes across the surface, creating gentle, realistic shadows and subtle reflections. Photographed at eye level with a shallow depth of field, the front book spines are in sharp focus while the background fades into a soft academic blur. The atmosphere feels optimistic, studious, and professional, captured in clean, photographic realism for a modern nonprofit website.

Lift

Literacy Is the Foundation of Tomorrow

Our youth-run charity connects high school student volunteers with underprivileged children through math, literacy, and logic enrichment activities at schools, hospitals, and orphanages across South Africa and beyond.

Learning that Lifts Every Child

Founded by high school students in Durbanville, Cape Town, LIFT was born out of a simple belief: that every child deserves access to quality enrichment, regardless of circumstance. We bring math literacy, logic games, and joyful learning experiences directly to those who need it most.

From local primary schools and orphanages to children’s hospitals — and expanding across Limpopo, India, and Pakistan — LIFT volunteers put the effort in to help the community of children.

An inviting reading nook centered around a low modern bookshelf filled with colorful children’s chapter books, logic puzzle collections, and educational workbooks, all meticulously arranged by color and size. On top of the shelf rests a small framed mission statement about literacy and critical thinking, beside a neatly stacked pile of activity worksheets and a sleek tablet displaying a digital reading app. Natural afternoon light streams through an off-frame window, casting soft, elongated shadows across a neutral-toned rug and smooth white wall. Captured with a wide-angle lens at a slightly elevated perspective, the entire scene is in crisp focus, creating a calm, organized, and aspirational mood. The photographic style is clean and contemporary, perfect for conveying a professional student-run charity environment.

Services

Origami Classes

We visit schools, children’s hospitals, and orphanages to run reading, math literacy, and logic activities that build confidence and curiosity.

Donations

We collect and deliver age-appropriate books, stationery, and learning resources to support classrooms and after-school learning.

Outreach

We visit schools, children’s hospitals, and orphanages to run reading, math literacy, and logic activities that build confidence and curiosity.

Volunteers:

21+

Books Collected:

5000+

Donations:

R200

Children Reached:

200+

“The quality is outstanding, and the attention to detail is impressive. I’ll definitely be back for more.”

— Aya Nakamura

Connect

Reach out to partner with LIFT, start a chapter, or bring our literacy programs to your school or library.

Online and local chapters nationwide

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A minimalist, modern classroom corner featuring a sleek wall-mounted display screen showing a simple, elegant infographic about literacy growth and critical thinking skills, with upward-trending charts and clean icons. Below the screen stands a compact white storage unit with labeled drawers for reading materials, logic games, and writing tools, each label printed with clear, professional typography. The walls are soft gray, with a single motivational poster about learning framed in thin black metal. Natural daylight streams in from an unseen side window, combined with subtle ceiling lights, producing a bright, evenly lit space. Captured at eye level with a wide-angle lens, the composition includes the entire corner in sharp focus. The atmosphere is aspirational, data-driven, and reassuring, rendered in crisp photographic realism for a professional nonprofit setting.

Main Team

Conor Obaray

Associate Director & Administrative Assistant

Conor is a member of Cape Town’s Junior City Council assigned to his own project. Inspired by Nicola’s impact, he chose to continue and add onto her Literacy Foundation further strengthening it with his brilliant leadership.

Nicola Koen

Chief Executive Officer & Founder

Nicola, a former Junior City Council member, started LIFT Literacy as a project to help children in the area. Her radiating energy can surely not be missed as she strives to reach her goals and bring joy to her surroundings.

Katherine Gray

Head Teacher, Seller & Web Designer

Katie is keen to help those in need and acts as the leader of the Origami Class services. Her creative ideas gives LIFT opportunities to raise money and work more effectively and founded the business Funky Junky to fund the community.

Jordan Marsh

Corporate Sponsorship Manager

Jordan uses his strategic skills to engage high-profile corporate partners and secure exclusive sponsorship deals. He uses his ambition to lead for the benefit of others and never ceases to embrace a challenge no matter the difficulty.

Keira Allen

Photographer & Social Media Manager

Keira is a kindred spirit with love for all things. She captures our journeys in action and manages what is seen by the public eye. Her kindness creates a welcoming atmosphere as she adds valuable and relevant insight for our team.

Micaela Fortune

Teachers & Social Media Assistant

Micaela works alongside Katie as the assistant teacher and with Keira in handling digital sources. Her quiet personality provides our team with calm mindsets and makes her creative opinions clear when she is driven.

LIFT

Cape Town, South Africa
Branches: India/Pakistan/Nepal/Limpopo

Contact

+27 63 336 0365

lift.cpt@gmail.com

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