About us
Next Chapter Jozi is a student-led literacy and STEM initiative based in Johannesburg, South Africa. We work with under-resourced schools to improve access to books, reading culture, library spaces, STEM exposure, mentorship and practical learning opportunities.
.jpg)
Our story
Next Chapter Jozi began with a simple idea: if learners lack access to books, STEM resources and educational support, students with access to those things should help open the door. What started as a student-led effort to collect and distribute books has grown into a broader education initiative focused on literacy, library refurbishments, STEM, school partnerships and youth leadership.
Mission
To support under-resourced schools in inner-city Johannesburg by improving access to books, STEM opportunities, mentorship, functional reading spaces and student-led educational support.
A Johannesburg where every learner has the tools, confidence and opportunities to write their next chapter.
.jpg)
Why Johannesburg
Inner-city Johannesburg is full of ambition, movement, pressure, creativity and possibility. Schools in and around areas such as Hillbrow, Yeoville, Berea and surrounding communities serve learners with enormous potential, but many still face unequal access to educational resources.
Next Chapter Jozi focuses here because this is our context, our community and the place where student-led action can make a practical difference.
Why student-led
Student-led does not mean informal or unserious. It means we are close to the learner experience, close to the problem and close enough to act with urgency. Next Chapter Jozi is built by young people who understand the value of access because we are still learners ourselves.
Our values
Respectful, practical, measurable and rooted in partnership. These values shape how Next Chapter Jozi works with schools and learners.
Resources should open doors, not decide who gets to walk through them.
We support schools and learners as partners, never as projects.
We encourage reading, STEM exploration, questioning, building and discovery.
Support should be tracked, useful and responsibly delivered.
Our work is rooted in Johannesburg and shaped through school relationships.
Young people can lead with discipline, care and practical ambition.
We focus on support schools can use: books, spaces, STEM exposure and study tools.
Get involved
Donate books, partner with schools, sponsor STEM access, support a reading space or help us connect learners to opportunity.