Mikhulu Trust was started after a hugely successful research study was conducted in 2012 in Khayelitsha, South Africa. The study was a partnership between the University of Reading and the University of Stellenbosch. Mikhulu Trust was founded by Professors Peter Cooper and Lynne Murray who were integral in the 2012 study, and since then, we have had ongoing relationships with researchers and academic institutions.

Since our inception, we have been involved in leading, or supporting, research studies. This ongoing work with researchers and academic institutions is to help us test and evaluate our programmes. 

In 2019, we worked with a Master’s student to conduct an implementation evaluation on our programmes. In 2020, we evaluated the impact of our “Book-sharing for Classrooms” programme on ECD teachers and young children in their classrooms in Namibia. In 2021/22 we are evaluating the impact of our “Book-sharing for Fathers” programme on father- and child-risk factors for violence. 

We regularly seek opportunities for working with researchers to improve our work, and if you have specific opportunities that could link to our work, please get in touch with us.