German International School Johannesburg
Since 1989, the German School Johannesburg has been selecting talented and high-achieving students from Soweto—a township near Johannesburg known for its history of struggle against apartheid—for the ISEK program, based on an assessment. Students from other backgrounds also attend the school, sometimes with financial support, until they complete their Matura exams.
Akani
"After Covid ended, many new restaurants opened, and all my friends went out, but I couldn't really join them because we didn't have any money."
Saatvika
"My father was the family's only source of income, and even though money was tight, we still had to send money to our grandparents in India."
Lwandile
"My family made sure I didn't feel stressed about the financial problems at home. But I noticed that things at home didn't feel the same as they used to because there was so much tension and fighting."
The German International School Johannesburg (DSJ) is a special place. Not only because children from many different cultures and backgrounds learn together here – but because something grows here that money alone can't buy: real opportunities. Here, children from South Africa learn about German, Swiss, and Austrian culture and language. For generations, the DSJ has stood for high-quality, values-based education. Children here don't just learn math, languages, and history – they learn to be there for one another, to take responsibility, and to remain curious. It's a school whose impact extends far beyond the classroom.