At First Car Rental, we believe access to quality education is the engine of long-term transformation. That’s why we are proud to continue our long-standing support of Teachers Across Borders Southern Africa (TABSA), an inspiring non-profit working to equip rural teachers with the tools to teach, lead, and uplift.
Since 2011, First Car Rental has partnered with TABSA by sponsoring vehicles to assist their annual training programme. This initiative directly supports maths, science, and technology education in under-resourced areas across South Africa, bringing vital skills to where they are needed most.
Who is Teachers Across Borders Southern Africa?
TABSA (Teachers Across Borders Southern Africa) is a volunteer-based non-profit organisation that works with teachers in rural and township schools across the country. Their mission is simple, yet powerful: to help educators meet and exceed national curriculum standards through practical, in-person training and peer-led knowledge sharing.
Each year, TABSA brings in a team of experienced volunteer teachers from the United States, who collaborate with local South African curriculum advisors. Together, they conduct workshops on Maths, Natural Science, and Coding & Robotics, reaching hundreds of teachers and, through them, hundreds of thousands of learners.
To date, TABSA has:
What does First Car Rental sponsor?
This year, from 17 June to 18 July 2025, First Car Rental has proudly sponsored a fleet of vehicles to assist TABSA’s 2025 Winter Programme:
These vehicles will be used by volunteers and coordinators to travel between key workshop sites in the Eastern Cape (East London and Mthatha) and the Free State (Bloemfontein). With this support, TABSA is set to reach over 1,000 teachers across four STEM workshops.
Why does this partnership matter?
South Africa’s Department of Basic Education has identified maths and science education as national priorities. Yet many schools, particularly in rural areas, face severe shortages of trained teachers, teaching resources, and classroom support.
By sponsoring reliable, safe vehicles, First Car Rental helps ensure that:
More Than Just Vehicles
We’ve been working with TABSA since 2011, and it’s a partnership we’re genuinely proud of. This isn’t about ticking a CSI box. It’s about being part of something that works.
Getting trained teachers into rural classrooms is a long game. It takes commitment, logistics, and a lot of time on the road. Providing vehicles is something tangible we can offer — something that makes it easier for people doing the real work to keep moving.
Supporting education in South Africa means showing up in ways that matter. For us, that means helping organisations like TABSA get to where they need to go — reliably, safely, and without unnecessary admin in the way.
Learn More or Get Involved
You can learn more about Teachers Across Borders Southern Africa at www.tab-sa.org. If you’re a school, educator, sponsor, or potential volunteer looking to support teacher development in South Africa, this is an organisation worth connecting with.
To see more about First Car Rental's vehicle sponsorship initiatives and how we support change-makers on the road, explore our CSI Initiatives or reach out to our partnerships team.
First for education. First for purpose. First for South Africa.
When a devastating tornado tore through Seatides Combined School, destroying much of its infrastructure, it left more than just buildings in ruins—it disrupted a community’s access to education and stability.
We at First Car Rental, in partnership with Combined Motor Holdings and Ford Global’s Philanthropy Fund, proudly played a role in helping rebuild hope. Together, we contributed to the complete reconstruction of the school’s Administration Block—a vital hub for the school’s daily operations.
On 9 April 2025, the newly rebuilt school was officially reopened in a moving ceremony attended by school staff, learner representatives, members of the School Governing Body, the KZN Department of Education, and various corporate and non-profit sponsors. It was an inspiring moment that reminded us of the power of collaboration and community upliftment.
Alongside fellow sponsors—including Gift of the Givers, Zimbali Foundation, Standard Bank, Cell C, Altacon, Venk-Pac, Pro Fibre, East Coast Radio, Bidvest Tank Terminals, and Dunlop—we helped turn devastation into opportunity.
This initiative marks more than just the return of school operations. It’s a symbol of renewal and resilience — giving both learners and teachers a fresh start, and reinforcing our belief that education is the engine that drives progress.
