South African non-profit unlocks employment opportunities through free online education
In a transformative initiative that’s rewriting the story of community empowerment, the South African social enterprise, Brownie Points, has partnered with global online empowerment platform Alison to deliver accredited learning to thousands of underserved non-profit workers, at no cost to the learner.
Backed by the Presidential Employment Stimulus and the Social Employment Fund (SEF), Brownie Points already has learners enrolled across five provinces with Alison’s LMS+, a flexible platform offering over 5,500 free online courses. The programme has led to a 24% transition rate into permanent jobs, further study, or entrepreneurship since October 2022, nearly doubling its earlier success metrics.
“We’re not just running a training programme,” says Pascale du Toit, CEO and Founder of Brownie Points. “We’re helping people access opportunities they were previously excluded from and reclaim dignity in their work.”
Tangible Results: From Learning to Livelihoods
The average learner now completes three courses, engaging in hours of active learning, thus providing tangible proof of real engagement. But the real measure of success lies in the stories: community workers gaining digital fluency, job seekers building relevant skill sets, and non-profits growing internal capacity.
For many, it’s their first time engaging in accredited learning. From digital skills and healthcare to sustainability and business, learners are choosing interest-aligned pathways and earning certificates that validate their progress. Brownie Points has sponsored these certificates on behalf of the students, while also planning to break down traditional barriers to education through a partnership with the DG Murray Trust and the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA).
Building a Sustainable Future for Social Impact
The outcomes are not going unnoticed. The initiative has been recognised by the Industrial Development Corporation and SEF, and Brownie Points has been named an official referral partner in the South African philanthropy space. The project also marks Alison’s first formal government-linked engagement in South Africa, paving the way for broader public-private collaboration.
“Our partnership with Brownie Points is a powerful example of the kind of meaningful collaboration that can change people’s lives. Alison’s Learning Management System is designed to support systemic education reform, at minimal cost. Brownie Points is a model that delivers real impact and one we believe can be successfully replicated in other countries,” said Ciaran Cannon, VP of Global Affairs at Alison.
With plans to scale the programme to thousands more through a custom Alison API integration and a data-free mobile experience, Brownie Points and Alison are building not just skills, but sustainable systems for change. Their next step? Launching contextualised South African courses and supporting other SEF partners to replicate this success.
"Through innovation and access, we’re not just improving employability—we’re reshaping what’s possible for the social economy,” Du Toit adds.
Ends
About Brownie Points:
Brownie Points is a South African social enterprise committed to strengthening the non-profit sector through technology, training, and impact-driven collaboration. A three-time SEF funding recipient, it supports over 10 community-based organisations across the country.
About Alison
Founded in 2007 as the world’s first Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) platform, Alison has grown into the world’s largest free online empowerment provider, supporting over 45 million learners across 193 countries, as of July 17th, 2025. At the heart of Alison’s mission is a simple yet transformative belief: education is the key to personal freedom. Alison exists to break down the barriers that limit access to learning, empowering anyone, anywhere to gain skills, unlock opportunities and shape their own future - free from the constraints of cost, geography or circumstance.
Alison offers over 5,500 free, CPD-accredited courses in key areas such as business, IT, healthcare, sustainability, AI, and personal development. Our courses boast content from independent subject matter experts in addition to renowned industry leaders including IBM, Stanford and Microsoft. The platform enables learners to gain job-ready skills precisely tailored to the needs of their local labour market. In addition to individual learning, Alison supports organisations with a Free LMS (Learning Management System), allowing businesses to deliver and manage in-house training at scale.
To support lifelong learning and career advancement, Alison also offers a Psychometric Testing Suite, an interactive Career Guide, and a user-friendly Resumé Builder. Learners can study flexibly with Offline Learning available through the Alison App, making it easier than ever to learn on the go.
Looking ahead, Alison is preparing to launch a recruitment service, designed to connect employers with skilled, motivated learners from around the world. The platform is also working to expand global accessibility through multilingual content, beginning with a full Spanish-language offering - reinforcing Alison’s commitment to education without borders.
Media Contact
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