OUR PARTNER-SCHOOLS
Question: What makes us different?
Answer: Our Top Ten Wish List Approach.
In South Africa, we seek out underserved, underperforming schools in the Eastern Cape, explain our singular focus on education, and collaborate by asking administrators, educators, parents, and students to share their Top Ten Wishes for change. In short, our approach puts locals in charge of our agenda, as it should be. Below is a list of our partner-schools and their Top 10 Wishes in various stages of completion and myriad smaller wishes we fulfill along the way.
VUSUMZI
PRIMARY SCHOOL
Population 900
PARTNERSHIP STARTED
2011
STATUS
[HONORARY PARTNER]
In 2011, Vusumzi Primary School was in such a state of disrepair that it was the inspiration behind the founding of Universal Promise and became the first school with which we partnered. Thankfully those rough days are over; at the time, though, it was clear Vusumzi was not in need of just one Top 10 Wish List but multiple.
Fulfilled wishes included an Academic Centre (the first in the township), security measures, classroom renovations, a playground, pavers (for school to continue during the rainy season), electricity, restroom renovations, a clean water system, a kitchen renovation, a computer lab, hundreds of school uniforms, and much more.
Vusumzi has transformed itself and is now fully-functioning and independent: proof that our Top 10 model of partnership works.
That said, when a need arises, Vusumzi is encouraged to reach out for help, which has led to netball uniforms, inevitable facility touch-ups, special parenting workshops, and lab coordinators.
ST. IGNATIUS
PRIMARY SCHOOL
Population 550
PARTNERSHIP STARTED
2021
STATUS
[ACTIVE]
WISH # 1
security system
completed
WISH # 2
clean water system
completed
WISH # 3
playground
completed
WISH # 4
arts studio
completed
WISH # 5
classroom renovations
completed
WISH # 6
multi-court installation
scheduled for 2026
WISH # 7
computer lab
finished in 2026
WISH # 8
kitchen improvement
completed
WISH # 9
principal’s office upgrade
scheduled for 2026
WISH # 10
staff room upgrade
scheduled for 2026
MOSES MABIDA
HIGH SCHOOL
Population 850
PARTNERSHIP STARTED
2022
STATUS
[ACTIVE]
WISH # 1
security system
completed
WISH # 2
all-school study guides
completed
WISH # 3
water system
completed
WISH # 4
computer lab upgrade
completed
WISH # 5
outdoor learning centre
completed
WISH # 6
white screens/projectors
finished in 2026
WISH # 7
multi-court installation
scheduled for 2026
WISH # 8
two new classrooms
potential government support
WISH # 9
administration building
potential government support
WISH # 10
restroom upgrade
possible in 2026
SANDISULWAZI
HIGH SCHOOL
Population 500
PARTNERSHIP STARTED
2026
STATUS
[ACTIVE/CENTRAL]
After learning of a discouraging Grade 12 pass rate of only 22% in 2022 on the matric (end-of-high school exam), UP reached out to Sandisulwazi High School in 2023 to introduce ourselves and to offer some form of support. We chose to implement our traditional School Uniform Drive and funded over 100 school uniforms and shoes for the student body. That alone improved attendance, morale, and a sense-of-purpose. In 2023, the pass rate increased to 55%, and in 2024 the pass rate increased to 85%. Sandisulwazi HS was the talk-of-the-valley after such a remarkable improvement in performance.
To recognize that dramatic scale UP, we upgraded their security measures and their water system, which are always the first two items in our Top 10 Wish List approach. We then paused to see how the school carried on.
Under the leadership of a strong principal and dedicated staff, the school continues to deserve more support, and in 2025, we extended the offer to SHS to become an official partner-school. We are eagerly awaiting the Top 10 Wishes!
OTHER INITIATIVES
SAMKELWE
HIGH SCHOOL
Population 1,000
PARTNERSHIP STARTED
2019 and PAUSED
After completing the first four wishes, including a security system, a restroom renovation for students and educators, a computer lab, Internet & software, and a kitchen renovation, for a variety of reasons, we paused the partnership.
Left to fund are Wishes #5 - #10, which include a drug & alcohol program, an after-school program, the balance of classroom renovations, a school hall, library books, and sports field upgrades.
ADDO
PRIMARY SCHOOL
Population 1,000
In 2023, we reached out to Addo Primary School through our traditional School Uniform Drive. The school is not an official partner, but it is a focus because so many children are in need of a proper school uniform and shoes. Our goal, as it is in every school, is to have each child outfitted in a high-quality school uniform and shoes to make school a haven for learning.
Click here to donate a school uniform and to receive a follow-UP video from the student (in the new uniform) directly to you, the generous donor.
SCHOOL UNIFORMS
and SHOES
Population Thousands
SMALL REQUESTS
GRANTED
Population Thousands
In South Africa, school starts with a school uniform and shoes, which carry weight that extends much further than the aesthetics of looking good. While school uniforms intend to level the playing field (because uniformity is supposed to mask financial inequality), when a family cannot afford a uniform, the child suffers, and the guardians often feel less than, through no fault of their own. For that reason, we are on a mission to get every child in rural Sundays River Valley properly outfitted in new school uniforms and shoes so each may attend school with pride and dignity.
thousands of school uniforms
thousands of school supplies
breakfast for hundreds of children
heaters for classrooms
laptops, tablets & calculators
coding & robotics classes
solar lanterns
funding of computer lab coordinators
funding of a library coordinator
seeds and straw bales for gardening
netball and soccer balls and equipment
cot-beds for kindergarten classes
medical support
netball and soccer uniforms
and much more…