Sustain programs to increase access
Young people in poor communities lack access to opportunities and resources that hinder their academic performance and schooling success. In after-school programs, students access tutors who can help with homework and support literacy and numeracy development. A sustainable after-school program is therefore critical to ensuring students continue to have a familiar, safe space to go to in the high-risk periods after school.
To sustain after-school programs, we
1. mentor program coordinators
2. facilitate good governance and
3. support team wellness.
1. Mentor program coordinators
Our mentoring relationship with program leaders informs the programmatic support they require in order to sustain their after-school programs.
As each community’s context is different, we assist with implementation planning that is cognisant of capacity and resource availability for each program. We increase access to basic operational resources so that programs are better able to create safe learning spaces for more students.
2. Facilitate good governance

We run governance training with each organization, providing templates and guiding implementation of policies and procedures. As due diligence increases, organizations are equipped to engage with donors and are more likely to access funding, which ultimately sustains the organisation.
3. Support team wellness
Given the high burden of care that community leaders carry, it is critical that they prioritise their own and their teams’ wellbeing. Through psychosocial support training, we equip teams to develop rhythms of self-care and to build communities of care for themselves and their students.



Equip tutors to provide academic support
Outliers has equipped thousands of tutors to provide academic support to the students in their after-school programs. The students who attend these programs have a safe space to do revision and catch up on key learning outcomes. These students are more likely to complete their schooling, access tertiary education, and find employment. These achievements help to sustain them and their families.
Academic support
We train and equip tutors to respond to the academic needs of students. Trained tutors are able to identify when revision is needed and access relevant supplementary materials to support literacy and numeracy development.
“I like training so I can develop my students. I get to share knowledge with people from different walks of life and we learn so much from each other.”
Zoleka Majola, Walk with a Purpose, Khayelitsha
Mentor development
A tutor who is able to connect meaningfully with a student is able to build trust and become a lifelong mentor of the student. This training module includes content on roles of mentors, how to build trust and communicate effectively with students, as well as how to help students navigate schooling transitions. These mentors can motivate and encourage students to set and achieve their academic goals, navigate external pressures and crises, and explore career opportunities through further study.



Curriculum recovery

graduating from UCT in 2017
In the current academic environment, the vast majority of students progress to the next grade without adequately grasping concepts and learning outcomes. After-school programs provide a unique opportunity for academic support and ongoing curriculum catch-up programs. Our curriculum recovery program equips tutors assess gaps in grade-specific learning outcomes, access workbooks to support key curriculum concept mastering, and source supplementary materials for revision.