July 2024

With the passing of Jeremy Ractliffe, we mourn not just a co-founder and funder of the Bitou 10 Foundation, but a visionary whose life's work profoundly enriched the educational landscape and transformed countless young lives in Plettenberg Bay.

It began in 2001 when he was Chief Executive Trustee of the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund with a shared vision articulated by President Nelson Mandela: to elevate schools into vibrant community hubs. Alongside dedicated partners like Peter Bester of the Cadbury Schools Development Initiative, Jeremy's leadership and unwavering commitment turned this vision into reality. He didn't just oversee administrative duties; Jeremy passionately advocated for the dignity and empowerment of disadvantaged learners. His persuasive spirit convinced principals like Anton Van Stormbroek to join the cause, ensuring that every child in Plettenberg Bay had access to secure, hygienic, and inspiring learning environments.

The rest was history, the new Bitou 10 Education and Development Foundation was incorporated in 2006 and flourished. The impact of Jeremy's efforts extends well beyond infrastructure and resources. It is etched into the stories of countless learners whose futures were forever altered by the foundation's programs in early childhood development, literacy, mathematics, and youth empowerment. His legacy lives on in the teachers who received crucial support and training, in the families uplifted by a new sense of hope, and in a community that rallied around the belief that "together we can do so much more."

Jeremy's passing leaves a void in the hearts of those who knew him and in the communities he served. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time.