South African Education and Environment Project

SAEP is a small, award-winning non-profit dedicated to helping children and young adults in Cape Town’s historically disadvantaged township communities develop their academic and life skills, continue their education after high school, obtain productive employment, and contribute as leaders to the economic and social development of their communities and their country.

The population served consists largely of families who are recent economic refugees from the impoverished rural areas of the Eastern Cape Province living in "informal settlements" (for the most part shacks).

The problems facing these communities are high rates of unemployment (probably at least 40% in these particular areas); crime; HIV/AIDS and TB; domestic violence; sexual abuse; and teenage pregnancy. Although the historic mission of SAEP is environmental education, it soon became clear that education at all levels in these communities is in a state of urgent need.

www.saep.org