The Uplands Outreach Programme was officially launched in February 1994, in order to make Uplands Prep School’s expertise and facilities available to disadvantaged primary schools in neighbouring communities to help overcome the disparity in educational standards.  After the establishment of Uplands College in 1998, the Programme expanded to encompass support for secondary schools and was granted Section 18A status, rendering all donations tax deductible.   

 

In 2001, the Uplands Schools acquired the adjacent 65 ha property previously belonging to Mondi, the site of the former Tree Improvement Centre, comprising commercially viable nursery facilities, a rich wetland area and several dams, and recreational facilities.  It is also host to a natural heritage site, named “Inhlaba” in 1989 by the South African Nature Conservation authorities, which contains a population of Aloe simii, a local endemic, which has recently been declared an endangered species.  This property is now the operating centre for The Uplands Institute (TUI) for Outreach and Environmental Education.

 

Our vision is to be recognized as the foremost proponent of public private partnership in education in South Africa, by assisting to transform previously disadvantaged schools in our region into effective educational institutions.  In addition, we aim to become known as a leading centre for environmental programmes, for the Uplands schools, our outreach partners and regional communities, with a view to achieving a high level of appreciation for the need for the sustainable use of our natural resources. 

Outreach activities currently comprise:

 

• Teacher training and upgrading, pupil enrichment and academic support programmes for primary and secondary schools from rural communities in Mpumalanga and Limpopo
• An environmental education programme for both Uplands Schools and for our partner schools
• A course to upgrade principals’ qualifications
• Bursary awards for disadvantaged pupils
• A community entrepreneurship project
• Community service projects
• A recycling programme (to comply with ISO 14001 requirements)
• Computer literacy courses for teachers and domestic and grounds staff of the Uplands Schools.