Africa Unite started in 2003 as an Idasa initiative. It is founded on the premise that human rights apply to everyone and may never be compromised. In the short four years of its existence, it has successfully started six programmes: An HIV/Aids centre in Guguletu, called "The Baobab Centre", a life skills programme, job placement centre, senior citizen programme, a saving scheme called Sisonke and an extra-mural study programme for science, maths and accounting at high school level.