Inkululeko (E-ncoo-Lou-Lay-Ko), a Xhosa word, means “freedom.†It is the name of, and the spirit of, this non-profit organization that serves students in Grahamstown, South Africa.
Inkululeko’s mission is to provide South African township youth with the skills, support and guidance necessary to apply, attend and succeed in university; to challenge the bigotry of low expectations for township youth; and to provide sustainable, positive change – student-by-student, generation-by-generation.
Inkululeko focuses its efforts on 15-20 youth per year. It admits students beginning in grade eight and works with those students through high school to ensure the student is continually achieving academic success.
Inkululeko has forged collaborations with local and international non-profit organizations and also with Rhodes University in Grahamstown, South Africa – and Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York.