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“Without education, there is no hope. And without hope, there is no future.”

– David Rattray

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Our
Beginnings

KHULA Education is the operating name of the David Rattray Foundation, established in 2007 to honour the legacy of historian and humanitarian David Rattray.

Living in rural KwaZulu-Natal, David and his wife Nicky saw first-hand how poverty and under-resourced schools were holding back generations of young people. With the support of guests at their nearby lodge, they began funding school repairs, building classrooms, and creating spaces where learning could thrive.

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After David’s tragic death, Nicky and her three sons founded the David Rattray Foundation to continue that mission. And as classrooms were rebuilt, the vision expanded – from fixing schools to transforming the future.

KHULA Today

Today, we are KHULA Education, ‘khula’ being an isiZulu word meaning to grow. And growth is at the heart of everything we do.

Each year, we support over 6,450 children and young people and more than 300 educators. Our work spans the full education journey – from preschool to employment – with programmes that strengthen teaching, open access to skills and opportunity, and help young people shape their own futures.

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Our Patron

We are honoured to have His Majesty King Charles III as the patron of the David Rattray Foundation, known as KHULA Education.

His Majesty was a personal friend of David Rattray and visited Fugitives’ Drift Lodge, where he spent time in conversation with David, deeply moved by his passion for the history of the region and the courage of the Zulu people. His longstanding support reflects a shared belief in the power of education, and His Majesty’s support remains a treasured part of our story.

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In Memory of Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi (1928–2023)

We were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, our former Patron and a lifelong friend of David and Nicky Rattray.

Prince Buthelezi was a towering figure in South African history, politically, culturally, and socially. From the very beginning, he offered KHULA Education his unwavering support and encouragement, helping to strengthen our roots in the communities of KwaZulu-Natal that meant so much to him and to us.

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Reflecting on KHULA’s journey, he once wrote:

“Now on the historic battlefields of KwaZulu-Natal, a generation is being equipped with the tools of learning, so that they might build their better future.”

We are honoured to have had his guidance and belief from our earliest days.
Thank you, Prince Buthelezi.