Help break the cycle of poverty

Give every child in South Africa a brighter future

Every child, no matter where they are born, deserves a quality education and the chance to thrive.

 The Challenge:  In South Africa, the opportunities a child has in life are often decided before they are even born. Children born into poverty face barriers to quality education and early childhood development that prevent them from reaching their full potential. This divide between wealthy and poor communities deepens the cycle of poverty and inequality, leaving millions of children behind.

 Children born into poverty face challenges that affect their education from the earliest stages of life: 

 Early Childhood Development (ECD):  While more children now have access to Early Childhood Development centers, the quality of these programs remains inconsistent, especially in poorer areas. Without qualified educators and adequate resources, many children miss out on crucial early learning.

 School Dropout Rates:  Over a quarter of children drop out before finishing Matric (high school), particularly after grade nine. These dropouts come mainly from under-resourced areas, where children face multiple barriers to staying in school.

 Gender Inequality:  Young girls, in particular, are disadvantaged in accessing education and opportunities, especially in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields. Only 28.5% of young women graduate from tertiary institutions in these critical areas.

 Lack of Basic Skills:  More than half of Grade 6 learners in South Africa are not able to do basic mathematics and understand language at the level they should be.

 UNICEF’s Response: A Path to Hope.  UNICEF is committed to transforming education for the most vulnerable children.

 Your generosity can make the difference between a life of opportunity or continued struggle for a child in need.  By supporting our efforts, you help provide access to quality early childhood education, essential learning materials, and programs that keep children in school. Together, we can ensure that every child, especially those in rural and underserved areas, receives the education they need to succeed and build a brighter future.

 Here is how we’re driving change, and we can continue with your help: 

 Improve Early Childhood Development (ECD) Programmes:  By providing training to early learning educators and enhancing play-based learning approaches, we aim to ensure that children in disadvantaged areas receive the same foundation for success as their wealthier peers.

 Reduce Dropout Rates:  We are addressing the underlying causes of dropout by supporting children throughout their educational journey, especially in critical grades leading up to Matric (high school).

 Empower Girls in STEM:  We are dedicated to closing the gender gap by supporting girls in their pursuit of STEM education (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) and careers.

 Skill Enhancement:  UNICEF addresses the lack of reading and numeracy skills through initiatives like the Early Grade Reading Programme (EGRP). By training teachers and creating interactive learning in under-resourced schools, the program helps children in Grades 1–3 build foundational skills crucial for their future.

Be part of the change. Invest in a child’s future through education

Every donation, no matter the amount, plays a vital role in the lives of all vulnerable children across South Africa.

 The time to act is now, as children are the future.  Your generosity through UNICEF directly impacts children's lives, giving them the opportunity to thrive and pursue their dreams.

We’ve joined forces with the civil society, businesses, academia, and the government, but without your support, we can't reach every child in need.

Got questions? We've got answers:

We don’t currently have offline fundraisers collecting donations for UNICEF.

If you are approached by anyone claiming to be UNICEF, do not give any personal details or transfer funds.

You can support our efforts in helping vulnerable children by donating online on this secure official webpage. In case you have doubts about the authenticity of the page, please contact us at pretoria@unicef.org.

Please do not share any sensitive/banking card information with any individuals who may ask you for this type of information, either online or offline. 

You can securely make a one-time and/or a monthly donation, on this page, by clicking on the donation buttons. Please select the donation amount that you want to give, then continue with the next steps to finish your donation.

No donation is too small, and any donation can help save children's lives. 

You choose for how long you wish to donate: monthly or only once. In order to contribute to a fundamental change in the lives of vulnerable children, the longer you choose to get involved, the more powerful your donation will be. Vulnerable children’s lives can improve if you are a part of and contribute to the work that we are doing, and to the solutions that we are providing. By donating, you become an active part of the solution and change process.

A monthly donation is a recurring gift amount that you choose to send each month, and it is even more impactful, as this means that you'll be helping children every single day. 

Your monthly gift will also enable us to plan effectively in our upcoming work, reduce costs and most importantly, reach even more children in need. The support and generosity of monthly donors contribute significantly to UNICEF's efforts to help vulnerable children. 

Your donation is used to support UNICEF's programmes for children in need in South Africa.

UNICEF encourages monthly donations to help us deliver sustainable, long-term solutions for children both in the region and globally.

Donating online through our UNICEF official websites is just as safe as any other online payment.

We use Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption to protect your information and ensure that your donation is secure. Your card and personal data will be safe and secure.

UNICEF does not have access to your bank card details, we will only have access to the contact details you provide in the donation form: name, surname, e-mail and phone number. 

Yes, you will receive an automatic "Thank You" email which can be used as a receipt for your donation.

UNICEF does not offer sponsorship of individual children. Instead, your donation goes to help many more of the most vulnerable children in South Africa. This may include public health emergencies, quality education, ending child poverty, protection against violence and providing safe, clean water. 

You can reach out to us by sending an email to pretoria@unicef.org. We are here to answer any questions or address any concerns you may ​have.

For more information or any questions, contact us at pretoria@unicef.org