Leap 1 - Langa

Expanding Technical Education in Langa

Langa is one of Cape Town’s oldest townships. It is a community filled with history, culture and resilience. But for many young people, access to structured technical education and clear career pathways has not always been within reach.

LEAP Science and Maths Schools established its Langa campus to provide strong mathematics and science education rooted in the community it serves. In 2024, The Hands On Foundation partnered with LEAP to help establish and strengthen the Technical and Engineering Faculty at LEAP 1.

The intention was clear.
Bring technical opportunity closer to home.

The Foundation supported the refurbishment of classrooms and the introduction of purpose-designed learning spaces suited to Engineering Graphic Design, Civil Technology, Electronics, Mathematics and Physical Science. These spaces allow learners to move beyond theory and into practical application.

But the real impact is not measured in square metres.

It is heard in the voices of the students.

One Grade 11 learner shared:

“I am so proud. I stand firm and confident to be part of this faculty. Being in this school is so different. It’s special. I’m excited to do the practicals. I’m going to get my hands dirty, building and working. I want to be a civil engineer.”

In 2025, the first cohort of 53 Grade 10 technical students successfully completed the year, 31 of them young women. Participation at this level signals a shift. Technical education is becoming more inclusive, more accessible and more aspirational.

Enrolment continues to grow, with 54 Grade 10 learners registered for 2026 and a projected capacity of 180 learners per year by 2027. For learners in Langa, engineering is no longer abstract. It is visible, practical and possible.