Atlas South Africa

Welcome

Our work

In the 2019, we officially launched the ATLAS All Schools Programme in South Africa. The model combatted crime, inequality, and discrimination while creating resilience, honesty, and capable young people who attend and achieve at school.

Today, we have progressed the model into coherent programmes at the Ocean View High School and Masiphumelele High School while expanding our work across another four programmes across South Africa, Eswatini and Kenya, as well as our Atlas DigiBus in Langa. We have a diligent and focused team as well as, committed rugby champions, supporting children across South Africa and southern Africa with education, health, employment and well-being, using the values and spirit of rugby.

''We need to empower the children beyond our rugby fields, we need to create children who will become great social leaders, with a capacity to uplift others. Children that will enshrine the human values that are shared by rugby; the values of respect, tolerance, integrity and empathy.We have an opportunity of creating a new Gang (using the words of negativity into positive). I have seen it happen, I believe it can and will happen''.Head Coach at Masiphumlele, Fundile (Frank) Charlie

Our Projects

We are immensely proud of each one of our projects and partners across southern Africa and South Africa. Click the photos below for more in depth information.

Atlas DigiBus, South Africa

Gauteng Women's Rugby Institute, South Africa

Ocean View and Masiphumelele High School, South Africa

SKRUM, Eswatini

KRDA

Team Talk

YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/HjmTQaRKmac

Our Updates

The girls at Gauteng Women's Rugby Institute earnt huge success at the Junior Springbok trials. As only one of two teams not from a Centre of Execellence Academy, the girls were a testament to themselves, shining bright in the face of their hardship and inequality and making themselves and the rest of us proud

We are exceptionally proud of Atlas founder and chairman, Jason Leonard, for his invitation by His Majesty The King to attend the State Banquet to honour the President of South Africa at Buckingham Palace.

The honour is in recognition of the work The Atlas Foundation does in South Africa

We are delighted to have launched the new media centre in Masiphumelele High School. The centre is equipped with up to date books and laptops kindly donated by LSE to enable our children's education to thrive

If you would like to show your support and help us in our mission to improve thousands of children's access to quality education and rugby coaching through the Atlas All Schools Programme in South Africa, please get in touch with Sue
Anderson by emailing [email protected]. See our donation pages here.

The Atlas Foundation SA is a PBO registered organisation and Section 18A. Certificates are issued for donations to projects. View our past newsletters.

Our Sponsors

Contact Us

For more information on Atlas South Africa, please email: [email protected]

Latest

Study Cat kicks off at Khelo!

Atlas is working with Study Cat to provide children at Khelo rugby with essential technology to improve their education. This programme is a game changer and is making education accessible for these children. With your continued support we can continue to provide more children with life changing opportunities like this!
Women’s Barbarians join The Atlas Foundation to inspire the next generation

The Women’s Barbarians joined The Atlas Foundation at Ocean View High School for a coaching day ahead of their South African test. The Baabaas and kids shared skills, stories and an unexpected lesson in hurling from their Irish contingent. The girls at Ocean View and Masiphumelele were inspired by the Baabaas and were exhilarated to spend some time with female rugby role models.
James' Story

When James joined Star* he was struggling in school, and was in Alternative Provision. The support James has from Star* has changed his life, helping to go back to mainstream school, and gain a 100% sports scholarship to a prestigious independent school!
Richmond Heavies Foundation LONDON BRIDGES NIGHT WALK

Protecting & Supporting the Richmond Rugby Family. This is a fundraising Night Walk from Tower Bridge to Richmond Bridge, crossing every Bridge (23!) in between. A distance of 43km – a little more than a marathon.

Las Vegas Sevens success

Golfers and special supporters made the Atlas team trip to the USA Sevens in Las Vegas a huge success. Delighted for our hosts that USA stormed to a win at the Sevens, and hugely grateful to our donors for pledging $42,000 to our work with disadvantaged kids in Memphis.
Atlas France legally established

On Monday 1st October 2018 Atlas France was legally established. The occasion was marked by a lunch attended by Atlas Chairman Jason Leonard, CEO Sally Pettipher, Atlas France founding President Jerome Riondet and Atlas Champion Simon Shaw.
Atlas USA

In 2017 a charity golf day at the Las Vegas Sevens raised funds for Atlas to support disadvantaged children in the USA. In 2019 a Board came together to establish this legally as a branch of Atlas focussed on helping children across the Americas. In February 2020 Atlas USA was legally recognised and registered as a 501c3
France

Atlas France a été créé pour aider les enfants de toute la francophonie grâce au rugby. Atlas et des Champions Français et Internationaux de rugby en France sont en train de mettre en place un solide programme d'éducation et d'assistance sociale pour certains des enfants les plus pauvres de la planète.
Atlas Ireland

Led by Shane Byrne, Atlas Ireland helps some of the poorest children on earth through the power of rugby.
Atlas Asia: Nicholson Memorial Fund

The Nicholson Memorial Fund was set up by Ben Nicholson in memory of his wife Anita and their two children Alex and Annabel who tragically lost their lives in the Sri Lanka bombings on Easter Sunday 2019. With the help of Ben Nicholson, a fitting legacy has been created in the establishment and work of 'Atlas Asia'.

Jungle Crows - Khelo Rugby

The Atlas Foundation supports The Jungle Crows with the Khelo Rugby project in 35 locations in Kolkata and North Bengal, benefiting nearly 2000 children each week.
Top 10 Benefits of Rugby

An opinion piece from a Health and Fitness Journal, rather than an empirical study, but a valid list of benefits nonetheless.
What We Do
Anita, Alex & Annabel Nicholson Memorial Fund

Set up by Ben Nicholson in memory of his wife Anita and their two children Alex and Annabel who tragically lost their lives in the Sri Lanka bombings on Easter Sunday 2019.
Front Row Club Closure
England Deaf Rugby Union

EDRU was set up by a group of deaf sports enthusiasts with the purpose of promoting the playing of rugby union by deaf and hard of hearing players.
Ben Nicholson interview Easter Sunday 2020

Read the moving interview with Ben Nicholson in the Sunday Times. “Sri Lanka’s Easter Bombings: one year on from the terror that killed my wife and children.”
History

Don't need summary
Ed Cooper Memorial Fund

Ed was a big personality who lived life to the full, was loved dearly by his family and friends, and is missed hugely by all who knew him. He was a talented sportsman who enjoyed playing both codes of rugby and cricket. Following Ed’s death in 2016, this Memorial Fund was established to honour his memory.
Richmond Heavies Foundation Presents ‘A Series of Extraordinary Events’

The Richmond Heavies Foundation are organising A Series Of Extraordinary Events around the world, which include extraordinary superhuman challenges as well as achievable social activities, allowing all to get involved. All monies raised will go to the Richmond Heavies Foundation, which was founded after Richmond Rugby lost 3 very special friends, far too early.