Amawele

Taking its name from the Xhosa word for ‘Twin’, Amawele facilitates partnerships between schools in Ireland and South Africa, to promote cultural and educational exchanges between the two countries. Each school is twinned with one other, and the students and teachers exchange information to gain insight into some of the practical realities facing their counterparts.

Amawele is currently working with around 70 schools in the Eastern and Western Capes, identifying needs and supporting them through developing facilities, materials, training, food and healthcare.  It is planned to increase this to 100 schools by the end of 2008 and to 200 schools by 2010.  The main focus is on raising the number of young people in South Africa who have access to properly structured education at both primary and second level. Amawele’s aim in Ireland is to give Irish young people the opportunity to grow in understanding about the world in which they live and to develop a confidence about the difference that they as individuals, and their communities, can make in the world and in their own lives.

Amawele receives funding from private donors and, since July 2008, has been in receipt of funding from Irish Aid ensuring the programmes expand and continue.