- Make financial contributions toward the costs of a UK education for under resourced South African individuals. The chosen recipients must display the suitable academic ability to complete the chosen course
- Support and mentor the student. We subscribe to the fundamental of holistic growth through qualified wise counsel.
- We believe that physical activity is complimentary to academic achievement and therefore 1Life Better partners with Lurgan Rugby and Cricket Club in Northern Ireland. Recipients will be encouraged to play sport at the club.
What We Do
What we believe
We do hand ups and not hand outs. Humans are at their best when achieving success themselves. 1Life Better focuses on those that need financial help to unlock this potential
1Life Better focuses on using resources for purpose. We challenge ourselves to participate in meaningful interventions
The world is full of human challenges and life without difficulty is impossible. Let’s not do life alone, we are better when helping each other overcome
We believe in teaching financial responsibility. Therefore, after graduating, and upon working and earning, every recipient will be required to repay an agreed portion of their study fees to 1Life Better. This creates a circular cycle, whereby the qualified recipient now becomes the giver to the new recipient
The Trustees
Morné Strydom
Morne’s charity motivation is based on his personal story. He had a life-changing experience of being financially assisted through his studies, therefore understanding the magnitude this opportunity presents. Becoming well educated in a healthy environment of excellence, while encountering high-performing individuals, was invaluable in his life’s development.
Excelling in cricket, Morne had a 10-year professional cricketing career, thereafter entering into the world of business. He has built a successful portfolio of diverse companies, concentrating on the property-related industry
Peter Keeling
Peter Keeling is the founder and current chairman of Diaceutics PLC, a groundbreaking data and precision medicine business. He has received numerous awards for his endeavours, highlighted by Diaceutics becoming one of the first Belfast-based companies to list on the London Stock Exchange.
His extensive experience and sharp business acumen will be a tremendous asset to the 1Life Better team. Peter has a long connection and love for South Africa, and has a heart to leverage his business success into a purposeful and meaningful vehicle for helping South African youth.
Peter Maxwell
Peter Maxwell has over 25 years’ working experience in the education sector. Being a psychologist, he has seen the positive impact that good-quality education has on the outcome of young adults’ lives.
As a well-respected member of the local community, he sits on numerous boards, where he lives out his belief in helping causes that have purpose. Peter states:
“Northern Ireland and the UK are incredibly blessed to have internationally recognised schools, colleges and universities. We often take this for granted and forget that this is not available to everyone. I am therefore greatly looking forward to working with 1Life Better to change lives through education.”
Stephen Johnston
Stephen is current Vice President of Implementation and Customer Success at an international digital pathology company. He has forged a successful career in the healthcare industry and has a wealth of modern skills to pass on to others.
Stephen has a heart for creating healthy environments for people to thrive in and is looking forward to assisting with this for 1Life Better recipients. He also has a passion for sport and is currently club captain at Lurgan Cricket Club. Similarly, 1Life Better places a high importance on participation in sport for physical and mental health.
The Circle Agreement In Real Life
The Circle Agreement is a living cycle that turns opportunity into long-term impact.
Every recipient begins their journey with a financial hand up — not a hand out. Through education in a healthy learning environment, students gain academic excellence, discipline, and confidence. Along the way, they are supported through mentorship and guidance, helping them grow both personally and professionally.
As students graduate and become contributing members of society, the journey continues. Once working and earning, each recipient commits to partaking in the solution by helping start someone else’s journey.
This repeating cycle ensures that education does not end with one life changed — it continues through many.
