ABOUT US

Tenteleni operated as a youth-driven, volunteer-run charity that supports the development of young people in the UK and Africa in collaboration with local partners.

Historically, Tenteleni has organised international volunteering placements for young people in the UK in schools and local organisations in southern Africa for 8 weeks during the university summer period. We have sent volunteers to placements in South Africa, Tanzania, Kenya, Malawi and Swaziland with a focus on ethical and responsible volunteering. Working closely with long-standing in-country partners, we established placements which meet the needs of the local community whilst developing our own young people.

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In 2017 we changed how we work and became a charity providing small grants to young people and organisations to promote educational projects and cultural exchange.

In February 2020 we closed, having spent our reserves giving grants to 20 projects.

WHERE WE CAME FROM

Meaning “do it yourself” in SiSwati, Tenteleni began in 1998 when our founder, Sarah Copas, visited Tenteleni Primary School in the township of KaNyamzane, within Mpumalanga

Province, South Africa.

Once back in the UK, Sarah researched the possibility of setting up an organisation which would allow British students to engage with similar schools, and the

following year returned to South Africa with five friends.

The success of Tenteleni saw it expand into four other countries; Kenya, Swaziland, Zanzibar and Malawi – as well as new projects within South Africa.

In 2011, at its largest, the charity sent over 120 volunteers drawn from 10 different UK universities.

PRIVACY POLICY

Read our privacy policy here.