HIGHER HORIZONS AFRICA: EMPOWERING GIRLS THROUGH EDUCATION
Higher Horizons Africa was founded by Gretchen Rudolph, who grew up in a South African township and understands the challenges so many girls face. Her idea gained momentum through collaboration with members of her 2022 EMBA cohort at Erasmus University – a diverse group connected by a shared belief in education’s power to uplift communities.
The initiative began with a collective effort – not from the top down, but through shared purpose. Like a village raising a child, this was a group of people coming together to invest in change, one girl at a time.
Today, Gretchen serves as founder and chairwoman, with a team working to expand access to education and mentorship for girls in need.
In a country where more than 919 000 children were out of school in 2023, where early pregnancy, poverty, and family burdens continue to rob girls of their futures, the work of Higher Horizons Africa is not only urgent – it’s necessary. This is not just an organisation. It’s a belief: that even one girl, given the chance, can rise and bring others with her.
A Seed of Hope
“We believe in starting small, but dreaming big.”
Starting with One Girl
The journey began by partnering with schools that aligned with the organisation’s values. Eventually, the Deutsche Internationale Schule Pretoria (DSP) became a key partner – progressive, inclusive, and ready to support the mission.
Together, they sought something rare: not just academic promise, but resilience. Strength. Girls who had faced immense challenges and still chose to keep going. Through thoughtful consideration of each application, one name emerged: Nathania Leah Malik.
“Let’s Just Help One Girl”
“I remember sitting down for our first call and saying, ‘Let’s just help one girl. If we can do that, we’ve done something real.’ We didn’t have all the answers, but we believed in starting small and doing it well,” recalls board member Harmen Tiddens.
That mindset continues to guide the work – rooted in practical compassion and purpose.
For board member Marina Fedotova, reading the applications was both sobering and inspiring. “You read these stories and realise how much these girls have already overcome. It made the decision incredibly difficult, but also reminded us why this work matters.”
More Than Money
– A Commitment to Her Future
Through donations, the organisation provides full tuition at DSP, along with books, supplies, and uniforms. But more than that, Nathania receives something less tangible yet just as important: stability. She knows that someone is in her corner.
Why This Work Matters
The numbers speak volumes. Over 80% of 10-year-olds in South Africa cannot read for meaning. Teenage pregnancies number in the tens of thousands annually. One in three girls who fall pregnant will never return to school.
But change is possible. Girls are enrolling in higher education in growing numbers. When supported, they thrive. They lead. They uplift.
Education isn’t just a path forward – it’s a tool for transformation. It enables girls to shape their own futures, and in doing so, shift the futures of those around them.
The Vision Ahead
By 2030, Higher Horizons Africa hopes to support at least ten girls with the resources and care they need to succeed. It’s steady, intentional progress – one life at a time.
If you'd like to learn more about the journey, the impact, or how you can help, we invite you to join us. Your support can help more girls rise – and bring others with them.