At Inkululeko, we strive to help motivated learners reach their full potential, especially in the face of socio-economic disparities. Our goal with these projects is to create opportunities for SUNY (and other) students to contribute to, and communicate with, the local community.
In a nation just over two decades into democracy, we know that the success of the next two relies on equipping capable, educated agents of change.
Those agents of tomorrow? They’re in our classroom today.
A Department of Basic Education report shows that in South Africa, less than 30% of students finish grade12 by the age of 18. We contribute to the new South Africa by meeting tomorrow’s leaders, where they’re at, today. We offer free tutoring,computer and internet access, transportation, exam prep, a library of textbooks and regular books (and snacks too!) to young people beginning in grade eight and remain with them through grade twelve.
Let us tell you about Asanele. He was an Inkululeko learner who loved to talk about Albert Einstein and counted Elon Musk amongst his idols. Asanele is serious about science. When we took him to the National Science Festival he asked so many questions, the presenter was getting annoyed so he whispered his questions to other people to have them ask for him
A few years ago, with our help, he went – quite nervously – to a National Science Competition where he competed against other accomplished young people.
He won – big. Asanele got a four year scholarship to any institution in all of South Africa. All of our students have moved successfully through high school. Some of our students are first place in their class.
Now, not all of our students are like Asanele – not everyone is meant to, or wants to, go to university. For this reason, we also have a social enterprise – a café made out of a repurposed storage container. The café offers hands-on learning for those who possess an entrepreneurial mindset. It shows how the math learned in the classroom translates to math that can be used to calculate profit margins; it shows the relevance of business studies in marketing a cafe and looking at consumer demographics.
According to StatsSA, those most vulnerable to the scourge of poverty are black South Africans under the age of 17 living in places like the Eastern Cape – precisely where Inkululeko operates. Each year, when Inkululeko re-opens at the beginning of the school year, there are far more applicants than spots available. We want to work with people like you to expand our capacity to serve more young people each year. After all, we know there are more Asanele’s out there. We’re hoping you can help us reach them.
Length of commitment | Variable |
Start time | Fall, Spring, Summer |
Level of collaboration | Variable |
Benefits | Digital Badge |
Who is eligible | Students of all backgrounds and majors invited to apply |
Christina Heath
Administrative Director
Experiential Learning Network
This project is for students interested in the SUNY SDG Project Challenge.
UNSDG, ELN, SUNY, Project Challenge, IITG