About McCarthy

Rally to Read was launched in 1998 when the HSRC (Human Sciences Research Council), approached McCarthy to lend them a 4x4. 

The HSRC’s aim was to reach some of the most remote rural schools in KwaZulu-Natal as part of a study of school resources. 

Upon their return the researchers shared with McCarthy the schools' desperate lack of educational resource and one of the most successful rural educational initiatives in the country was born.

Achievements to date include:

R50-million - The amount raised for rural education since the Rally to Read’s inception in 1998;
1250 - Total schools on the programme;
86 - Number of Rallies to date;
40 - Different areas/school clusters supported to date;
13 - Series of Rallies completed since 1998.

Read more on this important corporate social investment programme here.

Computer Centre Project

The Computer Centre Project, one of McCarthy's main corporate social investment programmes, has been running since 1998 and has facilitated the establishment of fully-fledged computer centres in 31 schools in Kwa-Zulu Natal.

The project is unique as it is a partnership between six sponsors – Afridek, Bytes Peoples Solutions, BCX, Unilever, Independent Newspapers and McCarthy – and the Department of Education’s IT Division.

Schools apply for sponsorship and are evaluated by the sponsors before a short list is made. If successful, the schools are awarded 40 computers each, donated by Unilever, as well as desks, electrical, chairs, blinds, curtains and fans for the classrooms, supplied by McCarthy. Schools also receive a high-quality printer from Brotek and teacher training from Bytes People Solutions during the school holidays.

Click here to make an enquiry