History

Amawele was established in 2007 by a group of business people who wanted to make a difference. Their focus was drawn to education, as a key building block in the fight against world problems like poverty, hunger, HIV/AIDS and political oppression.  The concept of Amawele came about as a way of addressing two audiences. On the one hand, young people in the Cape provinces for whom education is often of a rudimentary nature, if it is available at all. On the other hand, the Celtic Tiger generation that is growing up in an Ireland where wealth and prosperity, while not universal, are more widespread than at any time in the country’s history.

On a primary level, Amawele provides a channel for these two pupil communities to meet and learn about one another. Within this framework, Amawele is then able to identify the needs of schools and individuals within the three South African provinces, and look for ways to help them. This help might come in the form of financial support, expertise or lobbying. A particular issue is that of registration. Young people are not accepted in schools unless they are registered – which is not as simple as it sounds in a country with a high level of orphaned children.