USAP Community School
Education Matters Africa Foundation operates USAP Community School, a residential Cambridge A-Level school in Marondera, Zimbabwe serving high-achieving, low-income Zimbabwean and refugee students, complemented by Zimbabwe Career Connect internships and alumni-led teaching fellowships.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersHarare, Zimbabwe
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What USAP Community School does
Education Matters Africa Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1999 (originally as the United Student Achievers Program) that delivers a portfolio of educational access and career development programs for Zimbabwean students. Its core product is USAP Community School, a residential 11th and 12th grade Cambridge A-Level school located on a permanent campus in Marondera, Mashonaland East, that serves high-achieving, low-income Zimbabwean and refugee students at an annual cost of approximately $5,000 per student.
The organization extends beyond the residential school through a layered ecosystem: Zimbabwe Career Connect (ZCC) matches internationally educated Zimbabweans with internships and jobs via a network including Africa Career Networks and Mastercard Foundation; Zimpact Schools Initiative places recent alumni as volunteer teachers at under-resourced schools; Capstone Fellowship requires every student to design and execute a six-month community impact project; USAP Bridge provides structured gap-year programming; and TWEENS delivers refugee-led tutoring at Tongogara Refugee Camp. The organization co-founded the pan-African HALI Access Network of 40+ peer non-profits and runs annual fundraising via a Run/Walk held across 17 global locations.
Revenue is generated entirely through tax-deductible donations, grants, and charitable contributions routed to EIN 82-4727381, with named major donors including Oak Foundation, Chobani, Simbisa Brands, and Liquid Telecom. The organization employs 22 staff (54% of whom are USAP or ZCC alumni), reports $30M+ in cumulative scholarships awarded since 1999, 850+ students enrolled since 2000, and 185+ scholars at USAP Community School since 2020. Distribution occurs through direct application-based enrollment and partnership referrals, with no proprietary technology product layer.
USAP Community School firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- USAP Community School
- Legal name
- Education Matters Africa Foundation
- Website
- https://usapschool.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Education Matters Africa Foundation operates USAP Community School, a residential Cambridge A-Level school in Marondera, Zimbabwe serving high-achieving, low-income Zimbabwean and refugee students, complemented by Zimbabwe Career Connect internships and alumni-led teaching fellowships.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
USAP Community School industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Secondary Education Services
- NAICS
- Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (6117)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- International/Global Curriculum Schools (IB, Cambridge, etc.) (EDAJABAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- NGO/Nonprofit Education Programs & Service Delivery (EDADALAC), Refugee, Crisis & Humanitarian Education Partnerships (EiE) (EDADALAG), Newcomer & Refugee Student Support Programs (EDAJAGAH), Homeless, Foster Care & Highly Mobile Youth Education Services (EDAJAEAG)
Keywords
Where USAP Community School is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Harare
- HQ country
- Zimbabwe
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices2 records
Markets served
USAP Community School business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: Education Matters operates as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization (EIN: 82-4727381) funded primarily through donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. The organization receives tax-deductible contributions supporting student scholarships, operational costs, and program development.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Full Student Sponsorship - $5,000/year |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
USAP Community School product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Education Matters operates USAP Community School, a residential 11th and 12th grade (A Level) school in Marondera, Zimbabwe that educates high-achieving, low-income Zimbabwean and refugee students through a holistic Cambridge A-Level curriculum. The school is complemented by Zimbabwe Career Connect (career placement), Zimpact Schools Initiative (teaching fellowships), Capstone Fellowship (community impact research), USAP Bridge (gap year support), and TWEENS (refugee education at Tongogara Refugee Camp).
Product overview
Education Matters operates a portfolio of educational access and career development programs centered on USAP Community School, a residential 11th and 12th grade (A Level) school in Marondera, Zimbabwe that serves high-achieving, low-income and refugee students. The core school is complemented by Zimbabwe Career Connect (ZCC), which provides internship, graduate trainee, and job placement services for internationally educated Zimbabweans; Zimpact Schools Initiative, which places recent graduates as volunteers in under-resourced schools; Capstone Fellowship for student-led community impact projects; USAP Bridge for post-graduation gap year support; and TWEENS for refugee education in Tongogara Refugee Camp. The organization also participates in the HALI Access Network for international higher education advocacy.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- USAP Community School: A residential 11th and 12th grade (A Level) school that educates high-achieving, low-income Zimbabwean and refugee students through a holistic education model.
- Zimbabwe Career Connect (ZCC)
- Zimpact
- Capstone Fellowship
- USAP Bridge
- TWEENS
Quantifiable outcome
- $30M+ awarded in scholarship funds to students
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use USAP Community School
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
USAP Community School technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
USAP Community School partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- HALI Access NetworkcoreCo-founded by Rebecca Zeigler Mano in 2016 with Rebekah Westphal (then Yale international admissions officer). HALI Access Network is an association of 40+ non-profit organizations across Africa working with high-achieving, low-income students for international higher education opportunities. Education Matters serves as a key member, hosting the 10th anniversary HALI Indaba in Zimbabwe in September 2026.
- AFS Intercultural ProgramscoreGlobal non-profit providing intercultural learning through high school exchange programs in 60+ countries. Focuses on building empathy, resilience, and leadership skills. Offers scholarships and financial aid for participants.
- TWEENS (Together We Can Educationally Empower Non-privileged Students)coreOrganization founded and run by refugees for refugees, targeting youth in Tongogara Refugee Camp in Chipinge, Zimbabwe. Launched during COVID lockdowns 2020-21 as a peer tutoring program by USAP Community School students. Provides after-school programs, education outreach, girls' book club, homework assistance, and A Level program. Received USD $25,000 Julia Taft Refugee Fund grant.
- Africa Career Networks (ACN) - Mastercard FoundationcoreEducation Matters is an official ACN Affiliate in partnership with Mastercard Foundation. Enables Zimbabwe Career Connect to offer internships, graduate traineeships, and job placements for internationally educated Zimbabweans. ACN focuses on 7 key sectors: agribusiness, education, healthcare, governance, infrastructure, professional services, and arts.
- ChobanicoreChobani's support enabled construction of the school campus including the Chobani Dining Hall and Phase Two staff and guest houses. Founder Hamdi Ulukaya visited the campus in September. Chobani also sponsored the organization's website.
- Simbisa BrandscoreSimbisa Brands played a pivotal role in Phase One of the USAP Community School campus construction, organizing the building committee. Made possible construction of three classrooms, two laboratories, six student residences, and eight teachers' houses alongside sister brands Innscor and PaDenga.
- Liquid Home (Liquid Telecom)minorThrough Liquid Telecom's support since 2016, Education Matters offices receive reliable high-speed internet. This has enabled students to access online opportunities and scholarships while strengthening office operations and day-to-day learning.
- KutungaminorWomen-led pan-African child safety and child-centred design organization. Partnership brings digital child safeguarding training to Zimbabweans working in digital spaces or with children. Education Matters recruiting 50+ professionals for Kutunga Cohort 2 training (April-August 2026).
- UncommonminorEmployer partner providing internship and job placement opportunities through ZCC program.
- Friendship Bench ZimbabweminorEmployer partner providing internship and job placement opportunities through ZCC program.
- Clinton Health Access InitiativeminorEmployer partner providing internship and job placement opportunities through ZCC program.
- EconetminorEmployer partner providing internship and job placement opportunities through ZCC program.
- Duolingo English TestminorPartner providing English language testing access and support for scholarship and university applications.
- Pioneer AcademicsminorProgram partner supporting educational opportunities and pathways for students.
- Princeton in AfricaminorProgram partner connecting fellows with organizations across Africa, with former Princeton in Africa Fellows having served at USAP Community School.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
USAP Community School competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- HALI Access Network: Coalition of 40+ African non-profits supporting high-achieving, low-income (HALI) students — co-founded by Education Matters' Rebecca Zeigler Mano. Functions as both partner and broad incumbent in the same mission space, with overlapping beneficiary pools and scholarship pathways.
- Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program: Pan-African scholarship program funding undergraduate and secondary education for high-achieving, low-income African students. As a major funder of USAP's broader ecosystem (via Africa Career Networks) and a parallel scholarship provider, it is both partner and broad incumbent.
Others
- AFS Intercultural Programs: Global non-profit providing intercultural high-school exchange in 60+ countries. Active USAP partner offering scholarships and exchange pathways — adjacent rather than competitive, as both serve cross-cultural secondary education for African youth.
- Pioneer Academics: US-based selective research program for high-school students from around the world. Program partner providing USAP students with research opportunities and university-readiness credentials — adjacent ecosystem participant rather than direct competitor.
- Princeton in Africa: Fellowship program placing graduates at African organizations. Direct partner supplying former fellows to USAP Community School, and a comparable 'talent pipeline to Africa' model that operates at the post-university stage.
Direct peers
- African Leadership University: Pan-African network of tertiary institutions (ALU Mauritius, Rwanda, South Africa) serving high-achieving African students with employer-aligned curricula. Direct downstream peer — many USAP alumni pursue ALU degrees and share the mission of building African talent pipelines.
- African Leadership Academy: Residential secondary school in Johannesburg for high-achieving African students from across the continent. Operates the most comparable model to USAP Community School: selective admission, leadership curriculum, university placement at top global institutions, and a large alumni network feeding university and career pipelines.
Emerging players
- Andela: Africa-focused tech talent company historically training and placing African software engineers into global jobs. Comparable in targeting high-potential African youth for global career placement, but focused on tech employment rather than higher education.
- Kepler: Rwanda-based tertiary program combining online US university degrees with in-person workforce skills for low-income African youth. Comparable mission and target demographic but operates at the tertiary rather than secondary level and at smaller scale.
- SEED Project: Boarding secondary schools (Maryland and Lesotho) for academically talented, financially disadvantaged students. Highly comparable residential-school model and mission, though with smaller scale and US-based primary site.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
USAP Community School social profiles
Digital presenceUSAP Community School compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
USAP Community School financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
USAP Community School leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
USAP Community School funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
USAP Community School M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about USAP Community School
What does USAP Community School do?
Education Matters operates USAP Community School, a residential 11th and 12th grade (A Level) school in Marondera, Zimbabwe that educates high-achieving, low-income Zimbabwean and refugee students through a holistic Cambridge A-Level curriculum. The school is complemented by Zimbabwe Career Connect (career placement), Zimpact Schools Initiative (teaching fellowships), Capstone Fellowship (community impact research), USAP Bridge (gap year support), and TWEENS (refugee education at Tongogara Refugee Camp).
Is USAP Community School a public or private company?
USAP Community School is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was USAP Community School founded?
USAP Community School was founded in 1999. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is USAP Community School based?
USAP Community School is headquartered in Harare, Zimbabwe, in the Africa region.
How does USAP Community School make money?
One revenue line is on record: donations and Charitable Contributions.
Who are USAP Community School's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are HALI Access Network and Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program. Others are AFS Intercultural Programs, Pioneer Academics and Princeton in Africa. Direct peers are African Leadership University and African Leadership Academy. Emerging players are Andela, Kepler and SEED Project.
Does USAP Community School have an API?
No public API is recorded for USAP Community School.
What industry is USAP Community School in?
USAP Community School's product category is Secondary Education Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAJABAG, International/Global Curriculum Schools (IB, Cambridge, etc.), with a secondary code of EDADALAC, NGO/Nonprofit Education Programs & Service Delivery. Its NAICS code is 6111 and its SIC code is 8200.