Project Zulu has been working in partnership with South African township schools since 2012. What started as a one-off link with a primary school in the Madadeni Township has now grown into a longstanding partnership agreement with 14 schools across 3 communities including multiple primary and secondary schools and a special educational needs school.
Based at UWE Bristol, we are fortunate enough to focus all our efforts on our two key strands of work.
Firstly and most famously, coordinating our biennial Choir Tours, bringing children from the township schools to tour the UK with their incredible Zulu songs with every penny raised being returned to their school to support impactful development projects.
Secondly, our volunteering work with UWE Bristol staff and academics involves teams offering their time in the UK and South Africa to support the delivery of educational development projects identified by the South African schools.
Project Zulu are based in Bristol, UK however our work now spans across three communities in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Links were first formed with schools in and around the Madadeni township neighbouring the town of Newcastle. Madadeni is an urban township that has grown considerably in population since we first started visiting. We now work with 8 schools within this area including 5 primary, 2 secondary and 1 special educational needs school.
In 2018, Project Zulu formed partnerships with schools in a nearby area of Dundee. These 3 primary schools are our most rural of all in our partnership, each located outside of the small Dundee town, children walk long distances to school or rely on daily school transport.
Project Zulu began working with the University of Zululand (UNIZULU) in 2020 in the coastal town of Richards Bay. The partnership initially focused on research and knowledge exchange and has since expanded to include student placements. Through this collaboration, we have developed partnerships with 3 secondary schools in the surrounding area since 2022.
The name Project Zulu originated from the very first UK choir tour in 2013. A central aim of the choir tours is the promotion of Zulu Culture. Showcasing the rich and fascinating song, dance, and colour of Zulu tradition lies at the heart of Project Zulu choir tours and the name was chosen to represent this. When the educational aspects of the partnership became well established, from approximately 2015 onwards, the name Project Zulu was settled and much loved by all involved.
Project Zulu is an independent initiative not affiliated with any political party in South Africa. Our primary focus is to partner closely with schools in various districts across KwaZulu-Natal and their respective Departments of Education; working to support and enhance educational outcomes for local schools. We operate independently of any political opinions, influences or motivations. We exist for the benefit of educators and learners and aim to add value, enhance education and widen opportunities in the schools with which we are partnered.
University of the West of England, Room 2P50, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol, BS16 1QY
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+44 (0117) 328 1744
