Chadley Kinnes, Class of 2019

Recruiter

Chadley Kinnes’s story is one of extraordinary resilience and determination. Raised in Manenberg, Cape Town, an area often marked by poverty and social challenges, he faced overwhelming hardships from a young age. At just two years old, Chadley lost his mother. His father, a seafarer, was often away for months at a time, leaving Chadley and his three older siblings to navigate life largely on their own. In Grade 1, Chadley enrolled at Christel House South Africa, where he would find not only a strong academic foundation but also the stability and support, he needed to persevere.

By Grade 3, Chadley’s father lost his job and turned to substance abuse, forcing Chadley to move in with his older brother. But tragedy struck again when his brother passed away while Chadley was still in high school. Despite the weight of these challenges, Christel House SA provided Chadley with a sense of belonging, holistic care, and the encouragement to keep moving forward.

He matriculated in 2019, and with the guidance of our Career Development team, Chadley was able to enrol at university, secure financial support through NSFAS, and ultimately graduate with a Diploma in Human Resource Management. Today, he works as a recruiter for a global organisation specialising in analytics, AI, and digital solutions. His career is more than just a profession, it’s a passion rooted in his desire to help others secure employment and build better lives for themselves, something he deeply understands.

Reflecting on his journey, Chadley shares: “With the way Christel House SA is set up, the only thing that can come out of it is excellence. Without Christel House SA, I can’t even imagine where I’d be today. I’m so thankful to the staff, donors and everyone involved in the school who helped me reach where I am now.”

Chadley often says that if every school in South Africa, and even the world, operated like Christel House SA, the results would be transformative. His story is proof that with the right support, young people can overcome even the most difficult circumstances and go on to create lasting impact.

Your support makes stories like Chadley’s possible. Click here to donate and help us to break the cycle of poverty through quality education and holistic support: https://sa.christelhouse.org/donate/