Projects and Partnerships
The Nkobongo Township
Nkobongo is a settlement west of the city of Durban. It has a
population of about 11,000 people. 400 of these are orphans who have
lost their parents to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. While there is some
industry in the area, the unemployment rate is about 70%. Over the
last 10 years, the government has replaced most of the wooden,
cardboard, and scrap metal shacks with small cinderblock houses. The
government has also brought electricity to these new houses and
built wells and communal toilet facilities. While some progress is
evident in the infrastructure, very few of the children in Nkobongo
can ever hope to have a bright future. For many, the meal they
receive after school at the local NOAH center is the only meal of
the day.
The Imbasa Saturday Academy Tutoring Program
The Imbasa Saturday Academy is our initial educational
partnership established in cooperation with the NOAH center
and the Community Development Association. The goal of this program
is to provide subject tutoring, matriculation exam preparation, and
admission counseling to the tenth, eleventh, and twelfth graders.
Each six hour program day also includes two meals.
The Imbasa Scholarship Program
The Imbasa Scholarship Program provides all application fees to
post-high school institutions for those seniors participating in our
Saturday Academy. Additionally, senior Imbasa scholars can apply to
receive comprehensive financial assistance to further their
education.
Nurturing Orphans of Aids for Humanity
The Nurturing Orphans of Aids for Humanity (NOAH) is a national
organization serving communities across South Africa which have been
devastated by the AIDS epidemic. Presently, NOAH’s community center
in Nkobongo provides food for orphans and other vulnerable children,
pays school fees, and provides after school activities. Partnering with NOAH,
Imbasa has begun to expand upon these provisions and is developing a
comprehensive solution to address the educational needs of these
children.
