About Sos africa
SOS Africa: Providing Holistic Education to South African Township Children
SOS Africa is a small, family-run UK child sponsorship charity that has been providing holistic education to South African township children for over 15 years. The charity was founded in 2003 by Matt Crowcombe and his family, who were inspired by their experiences volunteering at a school in Cape Town.
The aim of SOS Africa is to provide quality education and support to children from disadvantaged backgrounds in South Africa. The charity believes that education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty and empowering individuals and communities.
SOS Africa works with local schools in some of the poorest townships in South Africa, including Mafikeng, Grabouw, and Somerset West. The charity provides financial support for school fees, uniforms, books, stationery, transport costs and other educational expenses. In addition to this financial assistance, SOS Africa also provides academic support through after-school clubs and one-to-one tutoring.
One of the unique aspects of SOS Africa's approach is its focus on holistic education. This means that the charity not only supports children academically but also socially and emotionally. For example, SOS Africa runs life skills workshops on topics such as health awareness, personal hygiene and self-esteem building.
Another important aspect of SOS Africa's work is its commitment to transparency and accountability. The charity provides regular feedback to sponsors about how their donations are being used and how their sponsored child is progressing academically.
SOS Africa relies heavily on individual donations from supporters around the world who sponsor a child or make regular contributions towards educational expenses. In addition to this individual support, the charity also receives funding from corporate partners such as Barclays Bank.
Over the years since its founding in 2003 until now (2021), SOS has made significant progress towards achieving its mission of providing quality education for disadvantaged children in South African townships:
- Over 1000 students have received educational support from SOS Africa
- 100% of students supported by SOS Africa have completed their secondary education
- 90% of students supported by SOS Africa have gone on to further education or employment
SOS Africa's work has been recognized and celebrated by various organizations, including the UK Prime Minister's Points of Light Award in 2016.
In conclusion, SOS Africa is a small but mighty charity that is making a big impact in the lives of South African township children. Through its focus on holistic education and commitment to transparency and accountability, the charity is breaking down barriers to education and empowering individuals and communities. By supporting SOS Africa, you can help make a difference in the lives of children who deserve access to quality education.