The Schools Improvement Initiative (SII) at the University of Cape Town is a bold, community-centred response to the systemic challenges facing South African education. Launched in 2012, this flagship project operates within the Khayelitsha community, working to bridge the profound gap between secondary schooling and the rigorous demands of higher learning. The SII recognises that student success depends on a healthy educational ecosystem, rather than individual effort alone.

By taking a holistic approach, the initiative provides sustained professional development for teachers, specifically in critical subjects like Mathematics and Science, while offering students intensive academic support, career guidance, and psychosocial resources. These interventions are designed to dismantle the historical and socio-economic barriers that often prevent talented learners from under-resourced backgrounds from reaching the university level.

Your donation to the Schools Improvement Initiative is a direct investment in a more equitable future. Contributions fund essential classroom resources, teacher mentorship programs, and university-readiness workshops that empower the next generation of South African leaders. By supporting the SII, you are helping to build a sustainable pathway for students to excel at UCT and beyond. Join us in transforming potential into achievement and ensuring that every learner has a fair chance at academic success.

Choose a donation method below to proceed to project selection for your donation

For an EFT, kindly send proof of payment to fundraising@uct.ac.za so that a tax receipt can be sent to you.

If you live outside of South Africa and would like to claim tax relief for your donation, you can do so in the following countries: 

• Australia
• Canada
• UK
• USA