Our Programs

Independent School Placement Program in the United States

SAAP has collaborative agreements with several independent high schools in the United States. We work with SAAP scholars to assist them in gaining admission into one of our partner independent high schools in the U.S. The demographic of the students, families, and communities that SAAP serves lack access to international educational opportunities due to financial barriers. At SAAP we believe that educational opportunities should be available to ALL children, therefore, SAAP negotiates scholarships/grants with U.S. partner schools for admitted SAAP scholars, also, we work tirelessly to raise funds and secure financial sponsors for our SAAP scholars.

Once admitted into an independent high school program in the United States, a SAAP scholar continues to receive support from SAAP throughout his or her academic journey.

leadership program

SAAP scholars participate in a variety of summer enrichment programs while enrolled in our partner U.S. high schools, such programs include a

-          Community Service Project

-          Summer Enrichment Opportunities

-          Symposium attendance

 Each SAAP scholar participates in a required direct community service project over one summer break. The summer community service project is an integral part of SAAP. The goal of SAAP is to empower SAAP scholars, through education and international exposure, with resources which will enable them to begin to brainstorm, develop, and implement solutions to the issues which plague their respective South African communities. 

A SAAP scholar, under the guidance of a SAAP member and mentor, is required to develop a community service project proposal aimed at addressing an issue in his/her South African community. The proposal is submitted to SAAP by the student and reviewed by SAAP members during the spring semester. Once approved, the student will travel to his/her community in South Africa for one summer break to implement the project. Funding for the project and travel expenses are provided by SAAP.  

Prior to participating in a Community Service Project, SAAP scholars will attend a Research Methods workshop lead by an expert in the field of research within communities of people of African descent, Dr. Serie McDougal, a Professor at San Francisco State University and author of the book 'Research Methods in Africana Studies' and a Program Planning and Implementation workshop. These workshops will provide students with the necessary knowledge and skills to be able to utilize research methods to identify a need in their respective communities, and develop, implement, and evaluate a project aimed at addressing that identified need. 

Additional resources provided by SAAP to its scholars while enrolled at a U.S. high school include the provision made by SAAP for a student to attend symposiums within the U.S., assistance in securing summer internships, providing exposure, access and support to summer enrichment programs such as the Chabot Entrepreneurship Academy, and support during the college application season.

Mentorship Program

Each SAAP scholar is paired with a mentor located in South Africa to provide the student with support during the application process for admission into our partner U.S. high schools. Also, the student is paired with a mentor located in the U.S. for the duration of his/her academic program in the U.S. 

STUDENT SUPPORT PROGRAM

SAAP students receive continued support from SAAP throughout their academic journey while enrolled in our partner high schools, also, they continue to receive support while in college.