In December 2003 an Australian traveler, Lou Billett, arrived at Buccaneers Backpackers in Chintsa, a small seaside village on the Eastern Cape of South Africa, and fell in love with Chintsa and the Wild Coast.

At Buccaneers Lou met Akha, the then 1½ year old daughter of one of the mamas who worked at Buccaneers. Over the next 2½ years Akha and Lou developed a bond – so much so that Lou would sponsor Akha’s education – in partnership with Akha’s parents. Lou would cover the costs of the education fees, and Victoria and Kosnathi would pay and arrange the transport for Akha (no small feat in rural Africa!) and her uniforms, lunches and books. And that was how it all started…..

African Angels is now a registered, tax deductible charity based in Chintsa, South Africa which oversees the sponsorship and education of particularly disadvantaged local children from rural townships in the wider Chintsa area.

Founded in 2007, African Angels acted as an educational sponsorship programme where sponsors were found to send orphaned and vulnerable children living in rural areas of the Eastern Cape to good schools. The charity was also founded on the idea of a unique partnership approach with parents and guardians of the children.

In 2012 school premises were leased just outside of Chintsa, near where the children are living, and the African Angels Independent Primary School was born.

The school was opened on 16th January 2012 with 2 classes – grade R (the preparatory year), and a combined grade 1 & 2 class. 2013 saw growth of the school as our learners moved up a grade and we took on a new class of grade R children. 2014 will see the same pattern and a separation of grades 3 & 4 (who began as our combined grades 1 & 2). We plan to continue this growth with each year as it comes.

African Angels School is very excited to be able to offer disadvantaged children in the poverty stricken rural areas of this small Eastern Cape hamlet the opportunity of an excellent education that they would otherwise not be able to afford. The language of school instruction is English, and the nationally-approved Education Station curriculum is taught.

African Angels is motivated by the belief that the most effective way to drive positive change in South Africa is to ensure children receive a good quality and continuous education, from preschool to matriculation. In most cases, with families living in informal settlements or ‘townships’, this cannot be achieved without additional financial aid from donors – ranging from private individuals to companies.

We are building a nation through education.

African Angels is a registered tax deductible organization in South African (PBO No 9300028481), NPO Number 061-372.

To support our work you can Sponsor an Angel, make regular or once off donations, or volunteer your time and skills.

Please contact us for more information about the school or how you can support us.

Lou Billett
Chair, African Angels Trust

 

 

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