Before becoming the President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma had established The Jacob Zuma Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) Educational Trust, as a result of his recognition and personal deep concern for the plight of the poor, particularly people in under developed rural areas. The trust enables children, whose poverty prevents their education, to attend school and have the opportunity to obtain a tertiary qualification.

Over the decades, Jacob Zuma has maintained his accessibility to people in need and in recognition of ongoing requests to alleviate the suffering of the poor, his vision for The Jacob Zuma Foundation was realised in 2008. Inspiration for the Foundation draws from the Patron’s experience of engaging with impoverished communities, especially in rural settings. It borrows on the Patron’s appreciation of the human spirit’s endeavour to rise above various barriers for personal excellence, with support