school-to-school campaign
A unique way for USA children to support ASAP's Education Programme
- In 2003, at the initiative of Sasha Wade, the director of School to School and the East Woods School in Oyster Bay, New York, ASAP launched the School to School Program - an innovative campaign that connects fund-raising school children in the USA with their counterparts in South Africa as beneficiaries.
- Since its inception, the School to School campaign has supported the education of 2800 orphans and vulnerable children in ASAP's Education programme.
- Relatively few USA dollars translates into fairly substantial funding in Africa, and so School to School gives USA children a great opportunity to practice generosity and make a positive difference in the lives of other children less fortunate.
- In 2007, a national organization, Common Cents adopted ASAP's School to School campaign as one of its grant recipients.
- Approximately $25 supports a South African orphan in school for one year, including a uniform and learning materials.
- 100% of all School to School donations go directly to school fees, uniforms and learning materials. ASAP does not deduct any overhead or administrative percentage from monies raised through this campaign.
Connecting SA and USA Children
- South African and USA children participating in the School to School campaign are able to communicate with each other through letters and pictures.
- This cultural exchange is having an enormous impact on the lives of all the children involved. New and exciting ways to enhance these communication channels are currently being planned.
Why School to School Makes a Difference
- Orphans and vulnerable children face many difficulties when it comes to school life and there is the ever-present danger that these children will drop out of the educational system and become lost to society.
- Going to school and getting an education is every child’s right and critical in order to grow into a productive, healthy, contributing adult.
- In South Africa, children who cannot pay school fees are often excluded or discriminated against in the school environment. School uniforms are compulsory.
- When their school fees, uniforms and other school necessities are provided, orphans and vulnerable children are able to go to school with dignity.
- Schools provide an important community haven for orphans and vulnerable children. Here, in the care of teachers, they can be monitored day by day, and if necessary, interventions can be implemented to restore or sustain their well-being.
School to School Video
An introduction to the ASAP School-to-school programme, which links schools in the US and UK to orphans and vulnerable children attending schools in South Africa.
