"She loved the children she taught and thoroughly enjoyed her teaching years."
- From her biography
The Woman Behind
the Foundation
Margaret Scott Lucas, née Dougan, was born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1935, where she went to school and discovered her passion for teaching. With a spirit of adventure and a desire to see the world, she chose to travel — first to Zimbabwe, where she taught for nearly a decade and met her husband, Ray, who had come from Ireland.
Margaret and Ray married in March 1973, each aged 37 and 39, and in the early 1980s followed a work opportunity to Port Elizabeth, South Africa. There, Margaret continued her calling, teaching at primary school level and furthering her qualifications through UNISA.
In her later years, Parkinson's disease robbed her of her mobility, and she spent her final years bedridden. Tragically, she had no family nearby, and she passed away in 2019, just a year after her beloved Ray.
Yet even at the end, Margaret's heart was with the children. Her will was a testament to that devotion, leaving behind resources to create opportunities for young people through education. That wish is now at last being realised.
Life in Milestones
1935
Born in Glasgow
Grew up in Scotland, completed her schooling and teacher training — nurturing a love of learning from a young age.
1960s – 1970s
Zimbabwe — Adventure & Love
Moved to Zimbabwe to teach. Spent roughly ten years there, and met her Irish-born husband, Ray, along the way.
March 1973
Marriage to Ray Lucas
Married at ages 37 and 39 — a union that would define the rest of their lives together.
Early 1980s
South Africa — A New Chapter
Followed Ray's work opportunity to Port Elizabeth. Continued teaching at primary school and studied further through UNISA
2019
Passed in Port Elizabeth
Died one year after Ray. Her will reflected a lifetime of love for children — earmarking resources for the education of young people.
Today
The Foundation Lives On
The Margaret Lucas Foundation is now a reality — administered through Siyafunda Education Foundation, turning her final wish into lasting impact.
Honouring a teacher's legacy
by investing in tomorrow's learners.
The Margaret Lucas Foundation
Margaret's love for children and her belief in the transformative power of education lives on in this foundation. Administered by the Siyafunda Education Foundation, her bequest funds real opportunities — scholarships, learning resources, and educational programmes — for young people in South Africa who need them most.
01
Access to Education
Removing financial barriers so that talented young people can access the learning they deserve — regardless of background.
02
Community Empowerment
Supporting learners within their communities across Port Elizabeth and the Eastern Cape, honouring the region Margaret called home.
03
A Living Legacy
Margaret's gift keeps giving — every year, her bequest creates new opportunities, new stories, and new futures for young South Africans.
Education changes everything.
Margaret spent her entire adult life in classrooms, from Glasgow to Zimbabwe to Port Elizabeth. She saw firsthand how a caring teacher and access to learning can reshape a child's trajectory.
In South Africa, where educational inequality remains one of the most pressing challenges, Margaret's bequest carries particular power. The Margaret Lucas Foundation works within the Siyafunda Education Foundation's existing network to reach learners who need support the most.
Her story is one of dedication, adventure, and above all, love; love for children, love for learning, and love for the communities she served.
"Due to her love for children she wanted to help further the opportunities of local young people through education — and thus the idea of the Margaret Lucas Foundation was born."
- From Margaret's Biography
The Margaret Lucas Foundation is administered by the Siyafunda Education Foundation (SEF), a dedicated NGO committed to transforming STEM education in South Africa. SEF brings robust infrastructure, school partnerships, and on-the-ground expertise to ensure that Margaret's bequest reaches learners effectively and ethically.
Siyafunda
Education Foundation
Administering Administrator
1200
Learners
30
Schools