In the world of development, there is often an expectation that progress should be quick and tangible. Projects are typically measured against short timelines, and funding cycles rarely allow for the slow, patient work that meaningful change often requires. As Stephen Covey so brilliantly put it, “change moves at the speed of trust”—a sentiment we have observed and experienced across all of our projects.
In 2019, we launched our biggest project yet, the establishment of Bulungula College, the first high school in the Xhorha Mouth Administrative Area. Before Bulungula College opened, there was no access to secondary education in our community. This was due to a holdover of Apartheid-era policies that deliberately restricted education for Black South Africans. Young people in our area could attend school only up to Grade 9. Pursuing further education meant leaving their families and homes to attend distant schools, an option that was prohibitively expensive and unfeasible for most. As a result, approximately 95% of learners from our community dropped out before completing high school.
Opening the first high school in our community was a radical step, not only because of the educational gap but also because of the cultural and historical context. Our community’s people are Amabomvana, and we maintain strong ties to traditional ways of life, where land, cattle, and ancestral customs remain central to our identity and community structure. Historically, education created divisions: the amaqaba, those rooted in traditional life, and the amagqobhoka, those who pursued Western education and Christianity. Introducing a new educational institution was not simply about providing access—it challenged long-standing beliefs and historical experiences of exclusion and mistrust.
When Bulungula College opened, the challenges were immediate. We had learners walk out on the first day. Others left in the weeks and months that followed. Parents remained unsure whether a no-fee independent school could be legitimate, particularly given the widespread stories of fake schools across the country. Low enrollment numbers made it difficult to keep the school running. Had we evaluated our success based on the first or even the second year, we might have concluded that the project was failing.
However, development that matters is rarely linear or immediate. It requires time, persistence, and the steady work of relationship-building.
We built trust slowly, through consistent engagement. Principals from our local primary schools– =Xhora Mouth JSS, Mkatazo JSS, No-ofisi SPS, and Ngubehrhamba SPS–spoke to parents about the College’s legitimacy. Traditional leaders reinforced these messages, reassuring families that Bulungula College was registered and real. Regular visits from Department of Education officials, many known and respected by local parents, further strengthened our credibility. But even with this support, the process was gradual.
The turning point came with the graduation of our first Matric class. In 2022, Bulungula College achieved a 100% Matric pass rate. Graduates were not only passing their exams—they were being accepted into tertiary institutions, enrolling in TVET colleges and accredited courses, and securing employment. This achievement represented more than academic success; it was a visible confirmation that the College was delivering on its promises. Trust had been built learner by learner, family by family.
Demand for places at the school surged. Today, Bulungula College has full enrollment, remains the top-performing school in our area for three consecutive years, and has graduated 147 learners—the most Matric graduates in our community’s history.
Sustainable change requires allowing communities time to fully come on board. It is not enough to introduce a solution. For it to endure, it must be believed in, owned, and shaped by the community it serves. Today, parents send their children to Bulungula College and are also active participants in the School Governing Body, helping to shape the school’s future. The recent approval of the Department of Basic Education subsidy marks another critical milestone in ensuring the long-term sustainability of the College—an achievement made possible because we allowed trust to grow at its natural pace.
At Bulungula College, as across all our work, we have learned that rushing development may produce quick wins, but it rarely creates resilient systems. True, lasting change must be given the space to address root causes rather than symptoms. It must build foundations strong enough to support future generations.
Sometimes, the reason a development project appears unsuccessful isn’t because the solution is wrong, but because the timeline is. Real change takes time. Trust takes time. This is the investment we need to prioritise if we want development that lasts.