What Is the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project (CTAOP)?
The Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project (CTAOP) is a nonprofit organization that invests in and advances the health of young people in Southern Africa, with the stated goal of creating a more equitable future for all. It works by strengthening the health and safety of young people in the region so they can "unleash their power and potential," and it is associated with actor Charlize Theron, who is quoted on the site as saying, "Young people have always been the drivers of social change. And this generation holds unique promise."
If you are trying to understand what the organization does, where it operates, or how to get involved, the sections below cover each of those questions.
What CTAOP focuses on
CTAOP describes its work through three "Pillars of impact":
| Pillar | What it involves |
|---|---|
| Health | Partnering with local organizations that provide sexual and reproductive health education, HIV/AIDS prevention, and reproductive health services to youth — aiming to break stigmas, expand access to care, and cultivate a new generation of health advocates |
| Safety | Supporting on-the-ground initiatives to prevent gender-based violence, while building protective community, professional, and peer networks that help young people live free from violence |
| Community Leadership | Equipping current and next-generation leaders |
A recurring theme across these pillars is that CTAOP funds and strengthens community-driven programs rather than running them directly — the site frames this as "supercharging community-driven programs."
Where it works
CTAOP's geographic focus is Southern Africa. Its health and safety programming is delivered through local partner organizations in the region, and its Youth Leaders Scholarship program draws Scholars who are nominated by local organizations.
Programs and campaigns mentioned on the site
- Youth Leaders Scholarship (YLS) Leadership Summit — an annual gathering that brings together young leaders for leadership development, personal growth, and community impact. The site notes that a recent December marked the fourth annual gathering of Scholars, who are nominated by local organizations for their passion and potential for change.
- 2025 Impact Report — an annual look back at what the organization is "seeing, hearing, and learning from the communities and organizations we support," described as going beyond numbers and outputs.
- Olivela x CTAOP — a shopping campaign in which customers can select CTAOP to receive 20% of the net proceeds from every purchase, supporting young people's access to sexual and reproductive health and rights resources.
How to get involved
The site includes a "Get Involved with CTAOP" section, and the campaigns above point to two concrete paths: contributing through the Olivela partnership, or engaging with the organization's programs and updates (including its Instagram presence and impact reporting).
What to keep in mind
CTAOP is a grantmaking and partnership organization: its impact runs through local Southern African organizations and the young leaders they nominate, not through direct service delivery. If your interest is in the organization's mission, the clearest entry points are its impact report and its get-involved page.