The purpose of SA Homeschoolers is : "Empowering parents to choose the best education for their children."

The website www.sahomeschoolers.org website went live in Jan. 2011 and has since then been established as the most comprehensive independent website on homeschooling in South Africa. Fair Lady wrote in an article on homeschooling : "...so many people recommended the SA Homeschoolers website that I’ve included it in the piece as a trusted resource for people wanting more information." The website is supported by and integrated with a Facebook Page and a Youtube channel.

SA Homeschoolers promotes it's purpose through the following mission :

• Be the most findable and accessible website on alternative education in South Africa.
• Be the starting point for parents that consider alternative education.
• Provide a safe platform for parents to get into contact with support groups, discussion forums and learning centres.
• Provide independent personal consulting services to empower parents and small school operators.
• Contribute to the creation of an informed movement and positive public opinion on home education through blog articles and sharing posts on it's Facebook Page and WhatsApp Channel.
• Provide a channel through which the suppliers of educational products and services can reach the market of parents that have decided to choose home education.

The vision of SA Homeschoolers is an environment where parents experience it as effortless to change to alternative forms of education that promote the best interests of their children.

Resume : Bouwe van der Eems

Bouwe van der Eems is a dedicated education advocate with over 20 years of hands-on experience in home education and a proven track record in educational policy advocacy. He has consistently championed the rights of homeschooling families, strengthened representation in policy-making, and helped shape South Africa’s education landscape. Alongside his education work, he also fulfils leadership roles in local government, an important stakeholder in enabling the establishment of small schools.

Education

• M.Sc. in Electronics Engineering, University of Stellenbosch (1991)
• Registered Professional Engineer (Pr. Eng. 202302527) – Engineering Council of South Africa

Homeschooling Experience

Since 2000, Bouwe and his wife, Debbie, successfully homeschooled their five children, who now hold qualifications and careers in IT, real estate, watchmaking, and law.

Leadership Roles

• Treasurer & Chairman, Pestalozzi Trust (2002–2024). During his tenure he grew the Trust’s capital fund to enable constitutional challenges and oositioned the Trust as a nationally recognised stakeholder in education.
• Represented homeschooling families in engagements with the Department of Basic Education (DBE), including during the drafting of the BELA Bill.
• Delivered multiple parliamentary submissions on homeschooling and education policy.
• Chairman, Association for Homeschooling (2001–2013)
• Chairman, Cape Home Educators (2024–present)

Representation & Advocacy

• Member, Joint Liaison Committee of the Western Cape for Home Education (2021–present)
• Member of the National Task Team for drafting home education regulations (2022–present)
• Founder, Liberty in Learning – a coalition uniting home education organisations to represent the sector collectively in government engagement.

Key Engagements & Submissions

• Engaged with Ministers Angie Motshekga (2020) and Debbie Schäfer (2018, 2022) on education policy.
• Delivered oral submissions to:
  • Portfolio Committee on Basic Education (2023)
  • NCOP Select Committee (2024) – Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Bill.
• Speaker at Global Home Education eXchange (GHEX) conferences:
  • Rio de Janeiro (2016)
  • St. Petersburg (2018)
  • Pretoria (2019)
  • Nairobi (2023)
• Represented the National Homeschool Association in DBE policy meetings (2014–2015).
• Early engagement with Gauteng DBE officials on homeschool registration (2004).

Entrepreneurial & Community Initiatives

• Co-Founder, SAHomeschoolers.Org – an online platform supporting home-educating families.
• Organiser, Kragdag Home Education Expos.

Commitment to Education and Training

Bouwe is deeply committed to strengthening South Africa’s education and training system. He is dedicated to ensuring the system is inclusive, supports diverse learners, and honours representation across race, gender, and disability—while safeguarding the rights of families to pursue education outside conventional structures.

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