Single mom and Cape Town activist Yumna Alexander gives adults a second chance through night schools

Students at the night school write exams at the Manenberg Hopeful Leaders Night school, Cape Town. (Photo: Supplied)

29 May 2025

‘People are really serious about changing their lives and the lives of their children. It all starts with you, and it is so beautiful to watch people because nobody is going to do it for them but themselves,’ says single mom and community activist Yumna Alexander, who runs 10 Hopeful Leaders Night Schools in Cape Town, helping school dropouts get their matric.

Having dropped out of school herself, Yumna Alexander understands first-hand the challenges faced by those who leave school early. She left school after falling pregnant and struggled for years to find stable employment. With limited qualifications, she took retail and call centre jobs to support her child.

Determined to change her path, she decided in her mid-20s to return to school and pursue her matric, holding on to her long-standing dream of becoming a teacher. After completing her matric, she began volunteering at the age of 32 at a leadership college in Manenberg. Without internet access at home, she used the Manenberg library as her study space. While there, she began helping others with basic computer use, but soon realised there were deeper issues.

yumna alexander night schools Yumna Alexander, a single mother and community activist who runs 10 Hopeful Leaders Night Schools in Cape Town for older people who want to return to class to get their matrics. (Photo: Supplied)

“I realised through the training that in every five people, only one person had matric. They used to tell me that they want to complete school, but do not know how to. I approached ward councillors to help open a programme, but I was told I would never succeed,” said Alexander.

That discouragement didn’t stop her. Today, she runs 10 night schools across coloured communities in Cape Town, including Manenberg, Mitchells Plain, Delft, Bishop Lavis, Hanover Park, Lavender Hill, Bonteheuwel, Elsies River and Ravensmead. More than 600 learners are currently enrolled, and Alexander has employed more than 20 teachers, many of whom earned their matric through her programme.

Learners pay R15 a class and a once-off registration fee of R50. Every cent earned goes directly back into the programme – paying staff and covering the cost of essentials such as copy paper and ink.

“We are getting no support from the government; we are doing this on our own, and it’s okay… We operate from 6pm every Monday to Thursday. We have subjects that include maths literacy, English home language, Afrikaans additional, mathematics, geography, history, life sciences, business studies and religious studies,” said Alexander.

Matriculants’ testimonies

Natalie Muller (36) said she joined the Hanover night school at the age of 34 after failing matric. She says her experience at the school was incredible, and working with Alexander was inspiring.

“I found her [Alexander] on Facebook calling people to come register, and I did. It was easy studying with old people because they were mature and focused. We did a lot of revision and wrote exams. Yumna always told us to study further, and I did, in finance; today, I am helping with finances at the schools. Everyone has a chance in life, and it is never too late,” said Muller.

night school manenberg Students at the night school write exams at the Manenberg Hopeful Leaders Night School, Cape Town. (Photo: Supplied)

Another matriculant, Waeeda Abrahams, dropped out of high school in Grade 11 and had three children. In 2020, she overheard people speaking about the night school and learnt Alexander’s name.

“I heard Yumna was working at the library, and I went to her because I needed to make something of myself. I then attended the night school… I managed to pass with a bachelor’s pass. I struggled to get into university, but I got into Two Oceans Graduate Institute [in Cape Town], and I completed two years with the school. I started working at night for Yumna as an administrator. I went to Unisa [through] a bursary,” said Abrahams.

She said she is now an administrator at one of the night schools and wants to help others find success. “She [Alexander] can be very strict, but she will work with you side by side. She also asks us for advice and is not a boss type, just an open person,” said Abrahams.

According to previous reporting by Daily Maverick, around 40% of South African learners who begin Grade 1 do not reach matric. This staggering dropout rate is fuelled by a mix of factors such as financial hardship, lack of resources, limited support at home and social pressures such as early pregnancy.

Read more: Targeted interventions needed to reduce school dropout rates

Alexander said her dream of becoming a teacher had seen her open doors to employment by helping people who had not matriculated. DM

For anyone wanting to assist, these are the details for her Hopeful Leaders Night School.

Account Name: Hopeful Leaders Institute

Bank Account: Nedbank

Account Number: 1266769854

Account Type: Current Account

Branch code: 198765

Swift Code: NEDSZAJJ.

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Matriculants’ testimonies