Paul Esterhuizen
| Paul Esterhuizen | |
|---|---|
| Born | Johannesburg, South Africa |
| 🏳️ Nationality | South African |
| 💼 Occupation | Entrepreneur and philanthropist |
| Known for | School-Days |
Paul Esterhuizen is a South African entrepreneur, businessman, and philanthropist who is currently based in Johannesburg, South Africa.[1] Esterhuizen is known for his entrepreneurial efforts to help improve access to education in South Africa via various initiatives that he has personally founded.
Esterhuizen is best known as the founder and CEO of School-Days, an initiative to improve South African schools and help parents afford tuition.[2]
He is also known as the founder of Safer Schools, as well as Safer Internet South Africa, both of which are South African-based initiatives focusing on improving lives for children.
Education
Paul Esterhuizen was born in Gauteng Province, South Africa. As a high school student, he was awarded Sportsman of the Year and Best Actor of the Year. In 1977, Paul Esterhuizen graduated from Florida Park High School, located in the western suburbs of Johannesburg.
Career
MySchool
Early in his career, Esterhuizen founded the MySchool reward and loyalty program, which is currently owned by Woolworths. MySchool is an award-winning community-based initiative aimed at helping parents, students, and other community members raise millions of rand for hundreds of schools, charities, and other organizations in South Africa.
School-Days
Motivated by the need to improve access to education for South Africans of all backgrounds, Esterhuizen founded School-Days, a rewards and incentives program that was backed by Skybound Capital. School-Days helps parents and community members support South African schools all over the country by making use of custom programs such as School-Days Earn Partners.[3]
School-Days allows its users to raise funds for schools and other beneficiaries via its platform. It does so by making use of Edu-Time Points (ETPs) to help with school and university tuition fees.[4] A more detailed explanation can be found on School-Days' FAQ page, as well as in this YouTube video.
Safer Schools
Paul Esterhuizen founded Safer Schools as a free online guide to improving school safety in South Africa. The website contains information on first aid, fire safety, and many other aspects of safety on school campuses.
Safer Internet South Africa
In addition, Esterhuizen founded Safer Internet South Africa,[5] which focuses on digital literacy. Starting as a partnership with the South African Film and Publication Board (FPB), Safer Internet South Africa helps educate parents, children, teachers, and other community members about safely using the Internet and staying safe from online risks ranging from cyberstalking to cyberbullying and scams.
Safer Internet South Africa has various resources that are available for free online.
Personal life
Paul Esterhuizen currently resides in Johannesburg with his wife, Dianne, whom he married in 1981. They have three children named Lauren, Natalie, and Bronwyn, as well as four grandchildren. As a lifelong resident of the city, his childhood home is not located far from his present residence.[6]
References
External links
- Official social media profiles
