The History of AET

AET was founded in 1958, so this year is the 50th anniversary of its foundation. Amongst its founders were the Rev Michael Scott, Professor Kenneth Kirkwood, Sir Alexander Carr-Saunders and Colin Legum. Initially the main focus of AET’s work was to help people from Africa to study in Europe, especially exiles and refugees from apartheid regimes in Southern Africa. However thousands of exiles and students from a wide range countries including South Africa, Namibia, Rhodesia (now Zambia and Zimbabwe), Botswana, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, Sudan, Nigeria and Ghana were able to gain higher level academic and vocational qualifications thanks to support from AET. Many went on to become leaders, politicians and senior administrators, academics, lawyers and doctors. They include : Kenneth Kaunda who became President of the Republic of Zambia, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Foreign Minister of Republic of South Africa, Dr Lindiwe Sisulu, The Minister of Housing, Republic of South Africa, Professor Derrick Swartz, Vice Chancellor, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, South Africa, Professor Peter Katjavivi, Ambassador, Embassy of the Republic of Namibia, Germany, Advocate Bience Gawanas, Commissioner for Social Affairs, African Commission.

Following the establishment of majority governments in Zimbabwe, Namibia, and South Africa, AET shifted its main focus away from supporting scholarships for African exiles, refugees and students in the UK to providing support for students and children in Africa. It began working in Somalia in 1996/7 and in Southern Sudan in 1996. Over 90% of AET’s work is now focused on supporting education in Africa and the Trust is working in Somalia (including Somaliland, Puntland and Central and South Somalia), Southern Sudan, Kenya, Uganda, South Africa and Swaziland. In the past ten years over three quarters of a million children and young people have benefited from AET’s programmes in Africa.