SOS Africa is a grassroots UK / South African charity which funds holistic education, care and training for disadvantaged children and youth. Our non-profit organisation removes barriers to learning and lowers South Africa’s school dropout rates. This is achieved by providing holistic education sponsorship to vulnerable children and vital support to struggling schools. The SOS Africa Skills and Training Academy also hosts certified training courses and life skills programmes to tackle youth unemployment.
SOS Africa Charity: How it all began…
SOS Africa was founded in January 2003 by 18-year-old UK student Matt Crowcombe, and South African school teacher Henry Matthews. Matt and Henry were dismayed by the poor standard of free schooling available to children in South Africa. One night, over a bowl of jelly and ice-cream, they developed a plan to establish holistic education programmes to empower South Africa’s future generations through education.
Matt returned to the UK after his gap year and started a degree at Swansea University. Before long, he recruited teams of students to participate in half marathons and raise funds to support the very first SOS Africa sponsored children. Teams of volunteers lead by his mother Ann and sister Emma also opened charity shops in Ilfracombe and Shepton Mallet. By the time Matt finished his PhD, what started as a UK grassroots initiative grew into a global fundraising movement.
SOS Africa’s child sponsorship programme began by sponsoring the education of a young boy from Mahikeng. 10-year-old Thabo had great potential but no access to schooling. 23 years on, thanks to the support of worldwide sponsorship, SOS Africa has established 5 fully operational education centres. These facilities partner with local schools, empowering hundreds of children throughout the Western Cape.
The organisation’s most recent Education Centre opened in Gordon’s Bay in the Western Cape in January 2024. The above video is a tour of this new facility hosted by high school students Hazel and Karabo.
Empowering Children through Education
The primary role of SOS Africa is to provide holistic education sponsorship to disadvantaged children unable to access good schooling. After the completion of a thorough selection process in collaboration with community-based institutions, the charity provides sponsored children from Grades 1 to 12 with school tuition at a partnering school. In addition, they receive safe transport, school uniform and stationery; essentially everything they need to fit in and flourish.
During the afternoons they attend Aftercare at SOS Africa Education Centres based on school campuses. There they receive a nutritious lunch, homework support, mentoring, tutoring and counselling. In addition, they participate in a broad range of extra-curricular activities and sports. Sponsored children even participate in regular outings and careers days to broaden their horizons.
SOS Africa’s first Child Sponsorship Programme graduates are either at university, undertaking further training or in employment. Meanwhile, their sponsors have been able to follow their progress every step of the way. Throughout the sponsorship they receive updates, school reports, photos, correspondence and can even visit their sponsored children.
Holistic Education Centres
SOS Africa’s holistic education programmes are facilitated by experienced staff based at education centres close to partnering schools. Every few years, SOS Africa identifies a struggling government school with potential. It then builds a fully resourced education centre tailored to the requirements of the school.
SOS Africa Education Centres fulfil 2 main functions:
- Each morning, whilst our sponsored children are at school, SOS Africa Education Centres open on campus to provide learning support programmes to any of the students with learning difficulties. This support is essential to ensure that children do not fall behind or drop out of school altogether.
- After school, SOS Africa Education Centres are attended by our sponsored children. There they receive a nutritious lunch, homework support, mentoring, tutoring, counselling. They also participate in a broad range of extra-curricular activities from gardening and art to swimming and kung fu.
This comprehensive and holistic approach enables each SOS Africa Education Centre to support both the most economically challenged children and students who are likely to drop out of the education system due to undiagnosed learning difficulties.
Additional Education Projects
With the help of individual, school, community group and corporate charity sponsors from around the world, SOS Africa is also able to support struggling schools. This is achieved by funding vital building projects (classrooms, sanitation blocks, sports facilities etc), learning resources and teacher training programmes.
These charity projects have been successful because they make an immediate impact upon the quality of education provided by partnering schools. Meanwhile, regular feedback and updates can be provided to our education project sponsors.
Tackling Youth Unemployment
SOS Africa recently celebrated its 23rd birthday and as more and more sponsored children graduate, the organisation has expanded its scope of support. It now also provides a vital lifeline to young adults unable to complete their schooling. Courtesy of an unprecedented donation, in January 2026 SOS Africa purchased a large property on the outskirts of Sir Lowry’s Pass Village, with plans to open a youth training centre…
After an intensive renovation process, in June 2026 the SOS Africa Skills and Training Academy opened its doors to unemployed youth from the Helderberg Basin and beyond. Henceforth, it was able to offer certified courses in care worker training and digital literacy. And this is just the beginning; over the coming months courses in entrepreneurial skills, hospitality and horticulture will also be introduced.
Over the past 23 years, what started as a family project, has evolved into a thriving organisation. SOS Africa continues to invest 100% of funds raised and donations made into holistic education, care and training programmes for South Africa’s future generations.
For more information, please email SOS Africa Founder/CEO, Dr Matt Crowcombe.
