The Ubuntu School

The Ubuntu School, Gqeberha, South Africa

Ubuntu Pathways is a nonprofit organization providing holistic support to children and their families in the townships of Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth), South Africa. The Ubuntu School is an innovative part of this mission, offering a progressive, student-centered education model for students from early childhood through Grade 8. You can learn more about us at Ubuntu Pathways.

The Ubuntu School is a trauma-informed school that offers students an experiential education and a transformational pathway out of poverty. Our team instills confidence, creative expression, character growth, and social skills through a flexible, evolving, and child-driven learning model. Through a nurturing environment, high-quality instruction, and world-class wraparound support, we provide everything South Africa’s most vulnerable children need to thrive. 

Our curriculum emphasizes hands-on learning through project based learning, experimenting and research projects.  Students are active participants in their learning and educators guide them through the process. We believe that we need to ensure that students are involved in projects and apply their learning to the real world.  Aligned with CAPS, our curriculum goes further to ensure we are incorporating internationally recognized curriculums that allow us to take our students’ learning to a deeper place. 

Beyond the academic program, the Ubuntu School gives our students extensive opportunities to participate actively in clubs, sports teams, community service and international travel.  We provide our students with a well-rounded educational experience designed to promote independent and critical thinking, communication, collaboration and problem solving skills. Inquiry and critical thinking are at the center of teaching and learning and students are encouraged to question and be accountable for their work. We want our students to be open minded, curious, empathetic and intellectually adaptable.