SAFE schemes raises tens of thousands of pounds every year across the University. This money has already made a huge difference to those deprived of a basic education. Check out some of the charities and their projects we have supported in the past to find out what SAFE has already done to make a difference:
Cecily's Fund is a charity which provides education to orphaned and vulnerable children. The charity has received funding from SAFE schemes often in the past; last year alone, SAFE schemes donated £3000 to Cecily's Fund. Below are some of the schemes that SAFE's money has helped to realise.
Pre-School Programme
Money raised by SAFE schemes has gone towards a pre-school in Lusaka called BISO Community School. In 2013, BISO Community School supported 131 children in their pre-school, educating according to their 'learn through play' and providing each child with a hot lunch every day.
The funds raised by SAFE scheme has also gone towards the purchasig of special playground equipment at BISO pre-school. Irene, a school teacher at the pre-school, has noted how with the new outdoor play equipment, the young children concentrate on their learning better.
Peer Health Education Programme
The initiative run by Cecily's Fund sees students educating younger peers on the risks of HIV/AIDs, STIs and pregnancy. Teenagers who have completed secondary school are trained as peer health educators and are able to run health awareness sessions in schools.
The money raised by SAFE schemes has allowed for new outside play equipment at BISO pre-school.
The Peer Health Education Programme allows students to educate their peers on sexual healh.
The Edutationer
SAFE, with Standard Chartered Bank, donated an Edutationer pre-school to ASHA in Soweto in 2003. An Edutationer is an 'instant container' made up of a 12 meter shipping container. Each shipping container is renovated with insulation, electricity, furnishings and a door and windows in order to make it a pleasant environment for children to learn.
The Edutationiner donated by SAFE schemes is fully operational, and 25 pre-school children receive an excellent education here each year from a highly trained teacher. 175 children have graduated since it was donated.
The Bright Kid Foundation is a charity that sends their Edutationers, classrooms made out of shipping containers, to locations across South Africa in order to provide a place to learn for underprivileged children.
SAFE's Edutationer has educated 175 pre-school children since 2003.
Menelik Education is a non-for-profit organisation which advocates the rights to education and good health for children in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). For the past two years, SAFE schemes have donated thousands of pounds to Menelik Education's Summer School Programme, which runs for two weeks every summer and aims to teach children English and provide them with fun games and activites.
Summer School Programme
Menelik Education's Summer Schools attract children from poverty-stricken areas of the Democratic Republic of Congo, providing teaching in an informal environment with the focus on language, reading, art and crafts, IT and sports. Not only does the charity provide basic resources such as pens and paper, which many local school cannot afford, but also gives each child a nutritious meal.
Money raised by SAFE schemes in the past has been directly spent on stationary, clothing, transport and food for children.
Menelik Education's Summer Schools give children a place to learn and play.
Looking to get involved?
If you are a charity with projects which you think could benefit from funding from SAFE then read on…
Charities can apply by filling out an online form, which colleges then see in order to help them decide who to allocate their funds to. Applications for funding is not yet open. If you would like to hear from us when the application opens, follow the link below to register your interest. Do not be discouraged if you are a small charity - SAFE schemes tend to fund smaller projects.