Melanie Smuts started Streetlight Schools with a clear vision: to tackle the deep-seated challenges of the South African education system while seizing the transformative opportunities at hand. She recognised how outdated schools perpetuate a cycle of poverty, failing generations of children, and saw the critical shortage of trained teachers as a barrier to delivering high-quality education. Yet, Melanie also saw the promise of innovation—how technology could disrupt traditional learning and spark transformation. She believed in the potential to cultivate a new generation of talented, passionate teachers who could redefine education. With this vision, Streetlight Schools was born to create a brighter future for South Africa’s learners.