About the Bridging Year Programme. In the impoverished black townships surrounding Cape Town, thousands of students sit their final high school examinations at the end of each year. The lucky ones, those who have had teacher and parent support, have a chance at passing, although many will fail. Even for those that pass, however, their grades are below the level that would qualify them for college or university, or for the more challenging academic programs they could handle with the proper foundation. 
Recent matriculants from township high schools are often at a disadvantage when seeking admission to tertiary institutions or entering their chosen career field. Even the brightest are likely to have significant gaps in their readiness for further education or training and rarely have help in preparing applications for admissions, student loans, scholarships and/or bursaries. In response to this need, SAEP launched a unique programme in 2003 that provides an intensive academic development, skill-enhancement and leadership programme in preparation for programme participants' tertiary study and careers.

Academic and Personal Development. During their year with SAEP, Bridging Year Interns receive intensive tutoring in two or four subjects, which they are registered to rewrite later in the year. This academic support is complemented by a range of skill-building classes and activities: computer lessons, Touchstones discussion groups, personal and career counseling, job shadowing, team building, financial skills workshop and assistance with applications for admission to college and for financial aid. They are provided with a monthly stipend that eases the financial strain on them and their families. The stipend helps Interns to cover transport costs to the SAEP offices, where they spend their weekdays. SAEP covers their medical and dental costs which arise during the course of the year.

Community Service. In return for receiving this kind of support, Interns participate in a range of community service activities, depending on their interests. Whether it is coaching soccer or debating in their former high schools, working in a township pre-school, or assisting with extra mathematics lessons for anxious students, Interns always make a significant impact in their communities. Simultaneously, they learn valuable organisational and leadership skills, and develop a lasting sense of social responsibility. Even though it is in no way a requirement, many "alumni" of the Bridging Year Programme return year after year to offer assistance with SAEP's endeavours, or become involved in other community upliftment activities.

SAEP's Bridging Year Programme includes:

• Academic tutoring to enable Interns to improve their scores in selected matric subjects;
• Personal mentorship and life skills development;
• Basic computer training and experience using Microsoft Office and the internet in SAEP's computer lab;
• Academic and career counseling;
• Job shadowing;
• Assistance in preparing applications to tertiary schools and learnerships and for financial aid;
• Eligibility for SAEP's Tertiary Support Programme;
• Regular community service in SAEP's High School and Early Childhood Development Programmes; and
• Extra-curricular enrichment activities, including courses on current events, poetry and entrepreneurship, as well as Touchstones discussion groups and outdoor camps and hikes.

Links: Photos. Video. More Information.

SAEP's Bridging Year Programme is supported by the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund (NLDTF).

To find out about other projects supported by the NLDTF,
visit the National Lotteries Board website.