Launching USAP Bridge: Our Uniquely USAP Approach to Gap Years

This week we officially launched the USAP Bridge Program with the USAP Community School Class of 2025 in preparation for their graduation in a few weeks. 

USAP Bridge is our unique bridging program between USAPCS graduation and university enrolment. The USAP Bridge program includes college prep, community service, work experience, leadership training, and personal development to ensure students have skills needed to thrive in university.

At the launch on Wednesday, students had the opportunity to hear from Education Matters and USAP Community School staff about the different internships/fellowships they can apply for for their 2026 Gap Year: 

Education Matters Internship 

Education Matters Interns will have the opportunity to learn more about non-profit organizational management and take on operations and administrative tasks allowing them to build professional skills. 

USAP Community School Teaching Assistant Program

Teaching Assistants will have the opportunity to grow their educator skills in a specific subject, while also taking on residential and co-curricular responsibilities on campus. 

Capstone Fellowship

Capstone Fellows will implement their Capstone Projects in their home communities with support from the Education Matters’ Programs Manager, and with access to industry professionals and various professional development opportunities. 

Zimpact Teaching Fellowship 

Zimpact Teaching Fellows will receive training in educator support and be placed with under-resourced schools around Zimbabwe to support teaching and administrative school staff to improve educational access for students. Education Matters will pilot Zimpact in 2026 as part of the USAP Bridge program, with the goal of scaling in the future. 

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We are excited to welcome Geraldine Mukumbi back to Education Matters as the Zimpact Teaching Fellowship Program Coordinator. Geraldine is a writer and educator from Ngezi. She is a PhD candidate in curriculum studies and teacher education at Stanford Graduate School of Education. Her research explores literacy and the history of Zimbabwean teacher education. She has taught Humanities and Entrepreneurial Leadership at African Leadership Academy (Johannesburg), Leaf Academy (Bratislava) and USAP Community School (Marondera).

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