Volunteering at SAEP

South African Education and Environmental Project (SAEP) was founded by Norton and later joined by Jane and has since been dedicated to improving the lives and opportunities of children in the townships near Philipi through education and life-skills training.

SAEP’s initial focus on environmental education was expanded to meet the academic needs of children in some of Cape Town’s poorest informal settlements. They work under three umbrella programs: early childhood development, high school support and enrichment programs and "gap year" program that assists post matric students (high grad graduates from high school) with receiving acceptance into university.

They are a very small not-for-profit-organization operated by four full time staff and numerous, often transient volunteers. With realistic dreams and a dedicated staff, SAEP has assisted in many of the township crèches (preschool centres that house up to 150 students in very modest and often insufficient facilities) providing specific assistance such as food delivery, supplies, volunteer partnerships and fundraising. The high school programs are dedicated to developing leaders and ambitious learners through after school and extracurricular programs including: English, drama, debate programs, tutoring, outdoor activities involving hikes or weekend retreats, math, science and technology programs and many others.

Unfortunately, SAEP is extremely under-funded and thus very dependant on its volunteers, which has allowed me to become involved in numerous tasks and programs. I have assisted in tasks from painting crèches, helping out with their computer issues (this just demonstrates how understaffed they are… cuz I’m no computer genius), tutoring, helping out with English enrichment, delivering food and supplies, designing and interviewing for development of updated creche pamphlets, to strategizing and developing a student learner tracking system. Through these experiences I have spent enough time in the townships to realize the positive impact SAEP is having on many children, from abandoned 2 year olds to high school learners, with the hope in providing future leaders.

Please follow the links to SAEP, to learn more about them. As we prepare for the holiday season, consider donating to SAEP or another small organization (whether local or abroad) as many small ngos are in need of sponsorship and deserve recognition for their direct contribution to grateful, hopeful, yet persistently impoverished communities, such as those in the townships of Cape Town.