CHARLIZE THERON for CTAOP
CHARLIZE THERON is supporting South Africa’s youth with her RAD Impact Award by focusing on an ambitious but achievable goal of returning every child in Buffalo City to school. COVID-19 along with social and economic issues have caused school dropout to increase dramatically to 30% in the Eastern Cape Province this last year. These children need to be in school if they are to succeed and thrive – and escape the vicious cycle of poverty.
Africa is the world’s youngest continent, with almost 60% of its population under the age of 25. Investing in the health, safety and potential of this young generation is critical. Charlize’s charity, CTAOP, empowers African youth to keep themselves safe from HIV and AIDS, by focusing on their health, education and communities. Through its support of sixteen innovative community-based organizations working directly with African youth, CTAOP is working towards a more equitable future where ALL young people can stay healthy and safe
CTAOP’s partner for this impact is Small Projects Foundation, a community program located in the rural Eastern Cape, which will conduct assessment of each student who dropped out of school during COVID and follow up with home visits by social workers. SPF will offer services based on the students’ and parents’ needs, which could include school supplies and uniforms, which are mandatory to start school, eye care and auditory services to assist with reading and writing, HIV services, emergency food parcels, transport to school, counseling, assistance with social grants, educational assessments and a program to support parents. Once the school year starts, SPF will also assist with school placement.
Charlize’s honoree is Aya Jezile, a 26-year old young woman from the Eastern Cape province, who used her experience working for a CTAOP program with Small Projects Foundation to advocate for the empowerment of youth in her community and for educating young girls especially to stay in school.
“We both are receiving the RAD Impact Award for inspiring purpose and I wanted to share this award with you because you really truly have been so inspirational in finding moments of my purpose through the work that we do with everybody at CTAOP and everybody at Small Projects Foundation. I wanted to acknowledge your power, your force of change, and change that you bring to your community.
You are the future and we are all here to be your cheerleaders. We’re on the sides cheering you on and supporting you. We will always be there for you, whatever you need, because we really believe in you. You have all the answers and we’re so happy to be able to go on this ride with you,” – Charlize to Aya, upon sharing her RAD Impact Award with her.
RAD is deeply inspired by both these exceptional women and the sisterhood they have found in each other, which radiates through the empowerment of youth across South Africa, Rwanda, Zambia & Zimbabwe.
JOIN US IN BEING RAD FOR CTAOP AND AFRICA’S NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS!