Southern African Student Program (SASP)
1961 – 1983
Between 1961 and 1983, AAI administered the Southern African Student Program (SASP), a program funded by the United States Department of State as part of the Fulbright-Hays Educational Exchange Program. SASP began as an effort to provide educational training to students from South Africa, Namibia, Angola, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, to provide a cadre of leadership in these countries which were transitioning into independent nations. During the first decade of the program the primary focus was on undergraduate and technical training, but later switched to graduate training at academic institutions in the United States.
AAI activities included candidate screening and selection, student placement and academic counseling, and arranging practical training opportunities. At the conclusion of the training program, AAI assisted in repatriating participants and locating employment prospects in Africa. Under SASP, AAI maintained a broad network of organizational contacts with U.N. refugee agencies, U.S. national church organizations, the Phelps-Stokes Fund and other interested groups in order to provide support services to the Southern African community in the United States. These services included assistance to individuals and families wishing to return to Africa, as well as counseling and advice on a wide variety of educational, social service and immigration matters in the United States.
Total number of participants trained: 600 +