The Tiso Foundation Charitable Trust (Foundation) was established in June 2001 as a self-sustaining, registered, Public Benefit Organisation (PBO) which manages and promotes programmes that support the academic and leadership development of young South Africans from underprivileged backgrounds. The Foundation nurtures and empowers its bursars to achieve academic success and to work towards meaningful careers that can assist in making them economically active citizens and have a lasting and positive impact on their families, communities and the country.

The Artisan Development Programme was established in 2009 to offer artisanal and trade training to capable young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. This, naturally, feeds into the main objective of preparing them for joining the workplace and contributing to the growth of our economy. To this end the Foundation has partnered with the Artisan Training Institute (ATI) who offer training for critically needed technical skills and trades, including electricians, diesel mechanics, boilermakers, welders and millwrights. Over the next three years the programme aims to meet its target of 500 skilled and qualified artisans of which at least half will be black women. To date through partnerships with the Aveng Community Investment Trust, Bell Equipment and Kagiso Tiso Holdings the Foundation has trained a total of 300 learners.