About Us
Why
Out of 100 children in South Africa only 40 make it through to the final year of school. Only 28 of these pass matriculation. Only four of these students enter higher education. And only one student, out of the original 100, graduates. It's not just the costs that keep students from graduating - the history of South Africa's education system means fewer black children can finish high school. CIDA has been developed to transform the future of Africa by producing graduates who become qualified professionals and creators of new businesses. Our graduates also increase the number of children finishing high school in their own villages. We already address four of the issues targeted at the 2005 World Economic Forum: Africa, poverty, health and education. And we hope to end the downward spiral of poverty and HIV/AIDS in Africa by replacing it with an upward spiral of learning and self-belief. At CIDA we keep the costs of education low: leading South African experts and professionals lecture on a pro-bono basis; companies and individuals donate money and equipment and sponsor students; and the students help to run the campus. So, if you want to empower millions, help the one in a hundred.