The Purpose of the David Rattray Foundation
To further the cause of reconciliation between the peoples of South Africa by promoting discussion through historical and political lectures, nationally and internationally, and to raise funds through these and by any other appropriate means, for locally-based upliftment projects specifically in the areas of education and health in Northern KwaZulu-Natal.

The enormous generosity of the many friends and admirers of David Rattray has already resulted in the raising of a significant sum which has been used to launch a foundation in his memory.

David and Nicky have, over the years, dedicated a large amount of time and effort to understanding the needs of local underprivileged communities and worked hard at addressing those needs by crossing the cultural and economic divide: the essential starting point for anyone wanting to make a personal contribution to alleviating poverty. They built schools and paid for improvements to existing schools in the area, reflecting the importance David placed on education as the foundation of upliftment.

All contributions, donations and membership fees will be used to continue the work of the existing Rorke’s Drift Education Fund and the Isandlwana Education Appeal Trust, which will now fall under the auspices of the Foundation, and to broaden their reach to more schools in the area and, possibly, in the future, across the land.

David understood that social responsibility was not just philanthropy, intended to boost reputation or reduce risk through compliance with good governance, but rather a fundamental obligation that earned him the right to live and work in the community.  Modern thinking in corporate social responsibility dictates that successful programmes achieve both core business objectives and sustainable social upliftment.

By large corporate standards David and Nicky’s work is a highly advanced and strategic approach which is an example to all of us as to how to build social capital by personally engaging across the poverty divide. Such actions on a large scale must surely be a vital part of any solution to the problems of crime and poverty that weigh so heavily on all of us. The David Rattray Foundation will support only carefully-chosen, strictly-assessed deserving causes.

A group of Foundation Directors has already conducted an on-site inspection of all the schools in the Rorke’s Drift and Isandlwana area, in the company of a local Chief, to gain a first-hand understanding of the communities’ needs. The quality and standards of the schools vary enormously and we are determined to ensure that the best-performing schools benefit to the maximum to ensure that David’s work is continued. A list of projects to develop these schools is being finalised and quotations are being gathered for the first project to build 3 classrooms at Mathutshana.

The Foundation has secured sponsorship from two Corporations to fund dinners, in Johannesburg and London, hosting lectures on history and political reconciliation and we are in the process of soliciting suitable calibre speakers. More on these events will follow in due course.

In addition, a campaign is under way to enable contributors to the Foundation to sponsor the planting of locally indigenous trees and shrubs at local schools and clinics.

A number of meetings have been scheduled for the rest of the year, during which a marketing strategy will be established and further means of raising funds for the Foundation will be discussed, including the possibility of extending the ambit of the organisation to allow for the collection of a voluntary reconciliation levy from tourism-related businesses. Should this route be chosen and large sums be raised, the Foundation’s work could be extended to other parts of the country, which would possibly allow the Foundation to become both a mouthpiece and a facilitator for the tourism industry in the areas of upliftment and community involvement.

Any further queries relating to the David Rattray Foundation may be addressed to Nicky Rattray at info@davidrattrayfoundation.org.

Contributions to the Foundation in South Africa may be made into the following account:
Standard Bank
Ladysmith Branch: 057725
Account No: 06 014 833 0

Alternatively, if you would like to make a donation to the UK-based David Rattray Memorial Trust, please click here to open/download our form in pdf.