SOS Africa UK sponsor Sharon Prosser shares her experiences after visiting SOS Africa’s Western Cape education projects and meeting the staff and children for the very first time…
When I arrived to meet Matt Crowcombe, founder of SOS Africa, I didn’t quite know what to expect. I had come across the charity 5 years ago when looking for a way to support underprivileged children in South Africa following a recent holiday in the country. I had been struck then by the work that the charity did, and what unfolded on the day only served to reinforce my view of the inspiring work being done by Matt and his team.
Our day began at SOS Africa’s newly acquired site on the outskirts of Sir Lowry’s Pass Village Community, in the process of being transformed into a skills and training academy. As Matt walked me through the wonderful space, made possible by the incredible generosity of the charity’s sponsors, I could really see his vision taking shape, the possibility of so many opportunities for people to learn and grow and bring the community together.
From there, we made our way to Grabouw High School where I first met with Grade 1 and 2 students immersed in after school care activities. What started off with curiosity and shyness on my arrival evolved in the time I was there, ending with hugs and high fives from all of the children as they boarded the bus to take them home. Watching them in their classroom and then playing games, I was struck by the fact that these children weren’t just being supervised or taught—they were being nurtured, encouraged, and given the foundations on which to build a rewarding life.
Later, we visited the swimming pool at the school, refurbished thanks to SOS Africa funding. The sight of students splashing, playing, and learning in the water was brilliant. It was clear how much this facility meant to them. For some, it was their first real chance to swim, and the excitement on their faces said it all. Something as simple as a pool has become a gateway to confidence, health, and community.
Our final stop was Gordon’s Bay Education Centre, where so much thought has gone into the care and support of students. There is a wide array of activities—gardening, learning new skills in the tool shed, painting, swimming. Each corner of the centre offered a new way to learn, to grow, to discover. It was education in its truest sense: not confined to textbooks, but alive in every experience.
Throughout the day, what struck me most was the passion of Matt and his team. SOS Africa isn’t simply about providing education for these children. It’s way more holistic than that—ensuring they have the right diet, pastoral support, and opportunities to thrive both academically and personally. It’s about giving them the tools to maximize their potential and the belief that they can.
In a world fractured by division, SOS Africa offers a vision of unity—where education, nourishment, and compassion combine to create opportunity. It’s a reminder that while politics may divide, humanity has the power to heal and to lift. SOS Africa is not simply building education centres; they are building futures. And having seen this first hand, I left at the end of the day feeling that being part of SOS Africa in my role as sponsor, is a real privilege.
