Eagles Rising Leadership Academy (ERLA) is a nonprofit Christian organisation committed to raising up a new generation of young people from previously disadvantaged communities in South Africa. We believe that real, lasting transformation begins with the heart and flows into every area of a young person’s life – spiritually, emotionally, intellectually, and economically.
We offer a unique, one-year leadership development program for young adults aged 18 to 21 who have completed Grade 12 and are ready to pursue purpose, growth, and a Christ-centred future.
Eagles Rising Leadership Academy (ERLA) is a nonprofit Christian organisation committed to raising up a new generation of young people from previously disadvantaged communities in South Africa. We believe that real, lasting transformation begins with the heart and flows into every area of a young person’s life – spiritually, emotionally, intellectually, and economically.
We offer a unique, one-year leadership development program for young adults aged 18 to 21 who have completed Grade 12 and are ready to pursue purpose, growth, and a Christ-centred future.
Down to the roots
Eagles Rising Leadership Academy (ERLA) began in 2003 as a simple, intentional weekend program designed to foster hope and purpose among disadvantaged youth. From those humble beginnings, a vision was born: to empower a younger generation to live lives of significance, hope, and transformation.
Over the years, what started small has grown into a fully developed leadership academy. Our curriculum has been carefully refined to reach a wider spectrum of young people, offering holistic transformation that touches every part of life. At ERLA, we believe that true impact comes from continually evaluating, adjusting, and reimagining our program to meet the needs of each new generation. Today, we are proud to offer a tried and tested program that consistently delivers on its promise.
Through it all, we remain deeply grateful to our Lord, who birthed and sustained ERLA as a vessel of hope. It is by His grace that each student discovers their God-given purpose, their unique meaning, and the incredible contribution they are called to make in society.
Eagles Rising Leadership Academy is a non-profit organisation based on the outskirts of Cape Town in Gordons Bay, South Africa. The Academy identifies and prepares young people with potential for tertiary education and the working world, empowering them to make a real difference in their lives, the businesses they work for and in South Africa as a whole.
With its one year program dating back to 2005, Eagles Rising currently offers a 1 year course focusing on leadership development and academic readiness building up to 100 carefully chosen students from previously disadvantaged backgrounds.
What lies ahead
With time, as the need for transformation among young people became clearer, so too did our desire to expand our reach. What began with a smaller intake has steadily grown, reflecting both the urgency of the mission and the faith that sustains it.
In 2026, Eagles Rising Leadership Academy (ERLA) was challenged to welcome more students than ever before. After careful and prayerful consideration, our Board and Management embraced the opportunity – expanding the annual intake from 26 to 40 students. This milestone marked a significant step forward in our journey to empower more young leaders with hope, purpose, and Christ‑centered transformation.
Each increase in capacity brings us closer to the horizon of our dream: to impact a greater number of young people across South Africa. With every step in the right direction, our expectations grow, and so does our faith in what God is unfolding through ERLA.