SHAWCO
 |
|
| Founded | July 1943 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Andrew Kinnear, Golda Selzer |
| Type | Student-run NGO |
| Registration no. | NPO 002-830 |
| Focus | Health, Education, Social Entrepreneurship |
| Location |
|
|
Area served
|
Cape Town metropolitan area |
|
Employees
|
30 |
|
Volunteers
|
2,000 |
| Website | www.shawco.org |
SHAWCO, the Students' Health and Welfare Centres Organisation is a student-run NGO based at the University of Cape Town, that seeks to improve the quality of life for individuals in developing communities within the Cape Metropolitan area.
SHAWCO was founded in 1943 by Andrew Kinnear, a medical student who was moved to action by the need which he saw in the impoverished communities of Cape Town. The organisation has grown over the years and now has 1200 student volunteers running over 15 health and education projects in 5 SHAWCO centres as well as other locations around the Cape Metropolitan area.
SHAWCO is divided into 2 main sectors: Education and Health. A third "staff sector" coordinates the SHAWCO community centres, transport, resource development, administrative oversight and project support.
SHAWCO was started in July 1943 by Andrew Kinnear, a University of Cape Town medical student, who spent the vacation driving an ambulance to earn money to pay for his medical training. Andrew Kinnear asked Dr Golda Selzer of the Pathology Department at Groote Schuur Hospital to assist him in establishing a clinic. Dr Selzer became one of the cofounders of SHAWCO and remained SHAWCO honorary life president until her death in 1999. In 2001, Mrs Graca Machel agreed to become SHAWCO's new life president.
What started as a one-man initiative has grown into one of the largest student volunteer organisations on the African continent, attracting over 900 UCT students, close to 300 foreign students, as well as about 20 community volunteers every year. SHAWCO's developmental strategies include healthcare projects and multi-purpose community centers with skills training and recreation projects.
The Free clinics run by SHAWCO rely on volunteer medical and allied health science students in all years of study and qualified doctors.
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Wikipedia