From Cradle to Career: Sanlam’s Commitment to Building a Confident South Africa

Education, empowerment through job creation, and economic inclusion form the heartbeat of South Africa’s progress. For more than a century, Sanlam has understood that true prosperity begins long before adulthood. Through its purpose-driven initiatives, Sanlam invests in people from early childhood through to entrepreneurship, creating pathways for South Africans to learn, grow, and thrive.

The journey starts at the very foundation: early childhood development. Recognising that hunger and under-resourced learning environments hinder growth, Sanlam partners with organisations that remove these barriers. Through collaborations with The Unlimited Child and The Lunchbox Fund, young learners receive nutritious meals alongside quality education. Teachers and ECD owners are supported with digital training, classroom technology, and business development tools, helping them run their centres more effectively. These investments have revitalised learning spaces across communities, giving children a stronger start and restoring dignity and confidence to educators who nurture the next generation.

As children advance through the schooling system, Sanlam’s support continues through initiatives like SciMathUS, a bridging programme for learners who narrowly miss university entry STEM requirements in mathematics and science. By providing tuition, accommodation, mentorship, and meals, the programme removes the social and financial barriers that often limit academic success. The results are remarkable: students who once struggled are now achieving top grades, entering tertiary education, and building successful careers in fields once thought beyond reach. This second chance at success reflects Sanlam’s belief that no potential should be wasted.

The focus then shifts toward empowering youth to find their place in the world of work. South Africa’s high youth unemployment rate demands creative solutions, and Sanlam has responded through its Youth Employment and Enterprise initiatives. Programmes such as Youth for Tourism and Youth for Business equip young people with marketable skills in key sectors including creative, green, and digital. photography, videography, and digital content creation. These initiatives not only train participants but also help them establish their own businesses. With mentorship, equipment, and access to real clients, many have grown into self-sustaining entrepreneurs serving industries from tourism to fashion.

Entrepreneurship lies at the heart of Sanlam’s broader economic strategy. By creating access to funding, resources, and market opportunities, Sanlam supports small businesses that become engines of local growth. Through business incubators and reimagined trading hubs, entrepreneurs gain the tools to formalise operations, employ others, and contribute to their communities’ prosperity. This investment in enterprise development is not an act of charity; it is the foundation of a more resilient and inclusive economy.

Beyond business, Sanlam’s vision extends into the spaces where communities face some of their greatest risks. In partnership with Santam, the Partnership for Risk and Resilience (P4RR) programme strengthens municipal capacity to respond to natural disasters such as floods and fires. By training thousands of officials and community members, providing equipment, and enhancing awareness, the initiative helps build safer, more prepared communities.

Sanlam’s “cradle to career” philosophy embodies a simple yet powerful truth: when people are equipped with education, opportunity, and confidence, they can build lasting prosperity for themselves and for the nation. From nurturing children in classrooms to mentoring entrepreneurs and supporting resilient communities, Sanlam’s work reflects a deeply South African vision, one where every person has the chance to grow, contribute, and rise.