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"GREEN YOUR MIND. GREEN YOUR SOUL. GREEN YOUR BODY. GREEN YOUR WORLD."

Informal trader, Sheffield Road, Philippi Township, Cape Town

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Saturday morning, Sagwityi Street, Philippi Township, Cape Town

DEVELOPMENT OF SAEP'S TOWNSHIP EDUCATION PROGRAMMES

SAEP GAP YEAR INTERNS 2004

SAEP GAP YEAR INTERNS 2005

SAEP's CORE PROGRAMMES

EDUCATION AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT:
CAPE FLATS TOWNSHIPS, CAPE TOWN

SAEP is in its seventh year of working with township high schools in the Cape Flats to support education and leadership development through programmes of academic support and enrichment for these severely under-resourced secondary schools. Through a holistic programme of mental, emotional, and physical development as well as environmental education and action, SAEP is laying a unique foundation for sustainable economic development and environmental improvement in Cape Town's townships. For a brief history of these activities, which began at Sinethemba Senior Secondary School in Philippi, see SAEP's Programmes at Sinethemba High School.
In 2003, SAEP expanded its high school support activities from Sinethemba to two additional high schools, Oscar Mpetha High in Nyanga East and Zisukhanyo Senior Secondary School in Samora Machel (Weltevreden Valley) and began to reach an even larger audience. To learn about SAEP's current activities, see SAEP's expanded programmes at Sinethemba and other township high schools begun in 2003.

GAP YEAR INTERNSHIP PROGRAMME

Each year SAEP takes a small number of recent high school graduates from the Cape Flats high schools where it works into a one year bridging year to help them prepare for tertiary education while dedicating half their time to service in the communities and schools where they live. To meet this year's gap year interns and learn more about their activities and aspirations, see SAEP Gap Year Interns 2004. For a perspective on SAEP's gap year programme for 2003, see Rachel Glickel, A Compass for South Africa’s Youth: The Southern Africa Environment Project’s Model for Community Intervention (May 2003) Rachel spent three weeks at SAEP studying its programmes and interviewing the participants. This is her report.

PRE-SCHOOL SUPPORT PROJECT

On April 26, 2003, a local sister organisation, SAEP-SA was launched at the Brown's Farm Community Hall in Philippi. See a report on the launch, learn of its vision and objectives, and find a copy of it's constitution here. The major new project lauched was a support programme for then severely under-resources pre-schools or "creches" in Brown's Farm, Philippi headed by Jane Keen, and experienced Cape Town social worker and activist.. SAEP's work with the these pre-schools in providing support in administration, fundraising, financial management and other respects is described in Safety and Unity Creche Forum Support Project, Philippi Township. For current developments involving the creches, see 2004 Creche Update No. 3 (July).

DEBATING: Success and Expansion of Township Debating League (Partner: UCT Debating Union) The Township Debating league has expanded to 13 schools in only two terms! One hundred and fifty debaters from 33 teams participated in the Africa Day tournament.

OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION: Development of SAEP/Mountain Club of South Africa Partnership The Mountain Club of South Africa now leads SAEP interns and learners from the township high schools on one climb on Table Mountain each month.

"Township Connection:"
A Web Site About the Township of
Philippi, Cape Town

Two members of the SAEP group, Ayanda Mpu (age 19) and Luyanda Bolisi (age 17) have developed a web site about their community -- Philippi -- its residents, its economic and social challenges, and its artistic/creative face. Learn why, in the words of poet Luzuko Hina,
"Philippi is the best,
Not like the rest."

This site won "Honourable Mention" in the ThinkQuest Africa 2002 Competition!! Congratulations to Ayanda and Luyanda for this achievement!!


Ayanda Mpu SAEP Gap Year Intern Computers and IT	Luyanda Bolisi 12th Grade, Sinethemba High

Pre-School Support Project:
Safety and Unity Creche Forum, Philippi

GREEN YOUR MIND
Luzuko Hina, SAEP Gap Year intern, delivers
closing remarks at a debate on whether sex education should be mandatory in schools

GREEN YOUR SOUL

Asanada Gonya, a 12th Grade student at Oscar Mpetha High reads his poetry at a Youth Day meeting

GREEN YOUR BODY

Bulelani Futhane, SAEP Gap Year Intern, stays fit by playing soccer with a local team in Philippi

PAST SAEP ACTIVITIES

Environmental/Social Research and Action:
Interns and Fellows: Profiles and Projects

Over the last six years, SAEP has provided educational opportunities for dozens of students and recent graduates from the United States, the UK, and many other countries to learn about South Africa and contribute to its social and economic development. This is an essential part of SAEP's educational mission.

Photos that have appeared on our front page:
Photo Archive

Environment /Sustainable Development Advocacy:
Coega Harbour and IDZ Project, Eastern Cape

The Coega project has provided a test for the principles of sustainable development and the rule of law as well as a major opportunity for education and advocacy.

Photography Project:
Khangelani Mtyahalela, 12th Grade, Sinethemba High School

For further information, please contact Norton Tennille,
Executive Director, at saep@worldonline.co.za