Impact
The Ubunye Challenge focuses on early childhood education because study after study proves that education at a young age provides longterm, lasting, positive outcomes. Providing children with education at an early age (when brain development is rapid) insures they are ready to learn when they enter primary school. Conversely, those who do not receive early childhood education start primary school already behind, and rarely catch up to their luckier peers. By intervening early, we can give these children a fighting chance to get a decent education, without which they will undoubtedly remain mired in poverty.
Partners
Charitable Endeavors
Ubunye Challenge Cup
In the heart of South Africa’s Eastern Cape, a movement is growing—one sparked by the dreams of children in 15 rural schools. The Ubunye Challenge Cup is a community-led initiative to bring extracurricular activities like soccer, netball, music, debating, and art to schools where these opportunities don’t yet exist. This isn’t just a program; it’s a celebration of creativity, teamwork, and resilience, driven by the students, supported by their chiefs and communities, and brought to life with our non-profit partners, the Ubunye Foundation.
From now until October, these schools will buzz with excitement as students compete in soccer and netball matches, create art for team jerseys, chant original poems and songs to cheer their teams, and engage in spirited debates. The journey culminates in a vibrant Finals Day in October, where the top four schools (two primary, two secondary) face off in soccer and netball, joined by winning artists, poets, and debaters from all 15 schools. Trophies, prizes, and pride will be shared, showcasing the power of community and opportunity.
Watch our 2.5-minute video to see the Ubunye Challenge Cup in action and meet the students whose lives you’ll transform. We’re aiming to raise $60,000 to make this vision a reality, and 100% of your donation goes directly to the project, thanks to our all-volunteer team. Every gift, no matter the size, brings us closer to empowering these young leaders.
Mwenje Secondary School Construction
The Ubunye Challenge supported the construction of the Mwenje Secondary School in the rural and impoverished town of Concession, 85K from Harare. Having built the Mapere Primary School, it was realized that when students graduated, there was no secondary school within a reasonable distance to continue their education. Construction began in 2019, and in 2022 there are five classroom blocks and a science lab and an enrollment of 184 students (72 girls and 112 boys).
The Toilet Project in the Eastern Cape
Imagine young children at school with either no toilet facilities or unsafe pit latrines housed in unstable structures, many with no doors. This dire situation existed at seventeen Childhood Development Centres in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. Ubunye undertook an urgent fundraising campaign in 2021 to provide safe, eco-friendly toilets to these locations. In 2022 the first two toilet blocks were built at Chelekuma Childcare Centre and Kumkulo ECD centre in conjunction with the team from Sanitation Ambassadors.
Introducing iPad Learning at Early Childhood Development Centres
In late 2019 Ubunye Challenge raised funds to bring tablet learning to about 360 children enrolled in Early Childhood Development Centres in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. It was a tremendous success. Teachers reported, “More children are coming to learn!” because of the iPads. Their parents tell others about the growth and development of their children. That brings even more children to our centres”.
Food For Families
In 2020 when COVID 19 caused a strict lockdown in South Africa many highly vulnerable families of the Eastern Cape, the poorest province faced an unbearable plight. Our “partner on the ground”, the Ubunye Foundation, identified eight hundred families in great need of help procuring food. Through their Food Relief program, they acquired donations of food and began delivering them weekly to rural communities in Ngqushwa and Makana. The major challenge was that many families were located in remote villages and the ageing vehicle being used was on its last legs. There was an urgent need for an off-road vehicle to ensure the delivery of the food boxes. A generous donor of Ubunye Challenge donated US$10,000, half the funds needed for an off-road vehicle with off-road tyres, a tracker and insurance. The remaining funds were raised through a Go Fund Me Campaign organized by Ubunye Challenge.
Mobile Classroom (Masibakhulise) Project
In 2018, with the help of the Ubunye Foundation, we have set a very specific goal: doubling the number of children served by the early education programs we have helped create. Specifically this means educating an additional 200 students which, at a cost of $150 per student per year, means we seek to raise $30,000.
The Eastern Cape Edutainer Project
The Ubunye Challenge has helped install 5 new Edutainers in the rural Eastern Cape. The Edutainers provide safe and secure facilities for learning for young and vulnerable children. The Edutainer is an instant classroom. It is an initiative of the Bright Kid Foundation made from a shipping container (12 square metres) with fitted windows and doors, insulated, electrified, furnished including ventilation systems. The container is delivered to a community and installed on prepared concrete foundations. Each Edutainer is stocked with carefully selected books, teaching aids and educational toys.
Mapere Classroom Block and Learning Centre Project
Mapere Primary School has been the main primary education facility for the surrounding farmlands in Concession, Northern Zimbabwe. The plight of the residents in this area surrounding these farms has worsened over the years. By uplifting the standard of education of the children in this area, we will give these children the opportunity to gain skills that will empower them beyond their families current socioeconomic status. Without the basic infrastructure and foundation in education, it closes the door on future opportunities for these children!
Teacher Funding in the Eastern Cape
Ubunye works in very isolated and economically impoverished rural villages. Five years ago, in most of these villages, there were no pre-school services and this was a key priority identified by the communities with whom the Ubunye Foundation first started working. Over the last five years we have worked with rural women’s self-help groups to establish ‘Safe Parks’ or non-formal pre-schools in order to make sure that these rural children can get the best possible start in life. The Safe Parks provide a structured daily programme as well as nutrition programme because a child with an empty stomach cannot learn or thrive.