In Kathorus, GirlUnlimited has doubled its intake, and a community is rallying behind 35 young women.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!There is a particular kind of pride in a township when a girl is chosen. In Kathorus, Gauteng, that pride has just multiplied. GirlUnlimited, the community-based foundation championing disadvantaged high school girls through education, has welcomed its 2026 cohort: 35 girls from grade 8 to 11, double what it set out to achieve.
The selection process is built on trust. Rather than casting a wide public net, the foundation works hand in hand with schools, teachers and school leaders to identify girls who face real socio-economic hardship but show academic promise and genuine commitment. It is an approach that keeps dignity intact and puts the community in charge of its own future.
The year ahead is full. The girls will receive academic support, mentorship, life and soft skills training, psychosocial and financial assistance, and industry exposure. Beneath it all is a culture of global citizenship.
The track record is already striking. After three consecutive years of programming, GirlUnlimited alumnae have progressed into South African universities. One beneficiary has been accepted to study in Japan. Perhaps most moving of all, a beneficiary’s mother has returned to university to further her own education.
“GirlUnlimited was created to change not only the trajectory of girls’ lives, but the mindset of families and communities,” says Portia Nondo, McDonald’s South Africa Franchisee and Co-Founder of GirlUnlimited. “When a girl begins to believe in her own potential, that belief spreads. We have seen mothers return to study, families re-imagine what is possible, and communities rally around education as a shared responsibility.”
Co-Founder Batetshi Matenge calls the intake a true milestone. “We set out to double our intake, and we did,” she says. “It is a moment we want to pause on, celebrate and share with all of you because none of it would have been possible without the community that stands behind us.”
That community includes McDonald’s South Africa, which sees the foundation as an extension of what its franchisees already do. “Supporting initiatives led by franchisees and rooted in the communities where they operate is an important part of creating meaningful, sustainable impact,” says Millicent Maroga, Director Impact at McDonald’s South Africa. “For McDonald’s South Africa, supporting initiatives such as GirlUnlimited is about recognising and strengthening the impact that our Franchisees are already making in their communities. When we support programmes that invest directly in young people, we are helping create opportunities that can benefit not only the individual girls, but their families and communities for years to come.”
For the girls themselves, the news is thrilling. “I am so happy and honoured to be selected,” says Neo Malinga of Ponego Secondary School. “It feels amazing to be chosen for such an inspiring programme and I can’t wait to start the journey.”
Parents feel it too. Zamani Mjiyakho, father of new recruit Amani, noticed the change at once. “Since then, I have seen a different girl, more committed to her studies than before, with confidence in everything she presents.”
The foundation is quick to share the credit with schools, families, volunteers, partners, donors and corporate supporters. But the work is far from finished. GirlUnlimited is now seeking funding to carry all 35 girls through 2026, covering academic support, wellbeing, mentorship and exposure opportunities. It is calling on funders, corporate partners, advocates and media partners to join the next chapter.
“Every success is a shared success,” says Nondo. “With the right partnerships, we can remove barriers to education and give more girls the opportunity to realise their potential.”
