Education & leadership lifts communities

 

  Said Michele Obama, First Lady of the USA, on her trip to Cape Town, South Africa, "I am here because I know that true leadership - leadership that lifts families; leadership that sustains communities and transforms nations - that kind of leadership rarely starts in palaces or parliaments".

 

This tenet is also followed in Rotary Club of Hout Bay (RCHB), where great emphasis is played on the provision of education, skills and leadership through grants and bursaries, particularly amongst the disadvantaged communities in the immediate environment of Hout Bay, which is also in the Cape Town area.

  

 

In 2008, RCHB decided to operate a small Bursary Fund for deserving underprivileged residents of Hout Bay. Funding for the scheme is an ongoing process of contributions from sponsors and other benevolent sources include Rotary clubs in other countries and a number of individuals and, of course, RCHB itself.

 

 

 

Within the club, the education and vocational aspect is handled as a professionally run avenue of service, involving not only experienced Rotarians and mentors but in many cases the donors themselves who follow the progress of the subject of their grant or bursary with great interest. The educational and vocational "avenue of service" in RCHB has been for a number of years directed by Fedde Renkema, who was recently bestowed with a Paul Harris Award - one of Rotary's highest honors - for his work in this field of Rotary activity.

 

 

In 2010, four High School students, one college student and two university students, were supported with a bursary averaging about ZAR10,000. Following this, in 2011, two high school students, three college students and one university student were supported with a bursary averaging about ZAR15,000. Out of these six, two new beneficiaries were selected and they joined four remaining “old” or senior selections.

 

 

Applicants for bursaries have to meet the following criteria :

1.The beneficiary must live in Hout Bay, be underprivileged, and have excellent references
2.The application must be endorsed by a Hout Bay Rotarian, who will be appointed as the beneficiary’s mentor. The mentor is to accept responsibility for guidance and communication. The mentor also plays a role in co-sponsor funding arrangements.
3.The bursary is an amount of money to cover educational expenses (such as tuition fees, books and study materials, and transport). Living costs and accommodation are to be covered by the applicant or family or other sources. Students should be frugal, get small jobs and take responsibility.

 

 

 

   

In view of the importance of education and skills development, with the disproportionately high number of unskilled, poor people relative to the lack of senior, high and tertiary education facilities in Hout Bay, echoed in most parts of South Africa, priority has been given to both vocational primary education, skills training and, of course, secondary and higher education.

 

 

Tertiary education is only included when sufficient funds are to hand.

 

However, current resources have been outstripped and the need for international support from donors has now become a priority if Rotary is to continue with its success in this field. We appeal to sponsors world wide to enable the continued expansion of our work.

Here are some examples of current bursaries in progress:

 

 

Vuyo Siyalana, is studying a four year BCom Law Degree at University of Western Cape. Has received a generous bursary granted by the Tomorrow Trust. Additional funding received from an Australian sponsor for expenses for the first trimester. Mentor in this case is Butch Liebenberg a past president of RCHB.

Caryn Fredericks is now in Grade 11 at St Cyprian's High School. Her reports indicate that she is a well
deserving case for educational support and her career looks promising. A bursary of ZAR 2,500 is involved, co-sponsored by an honary Rotarian.

Ashley Moos has reached grade 11 at Shiloah Christian High School. A bursary of ZAR15,000 for 2011 is involved, fully sponsored by Rotarian Hans Kuhn.

Nicole Saunders is the recipient of a two year beauty therapy diploma course at the College of Cape Town. A bursary of ZAR13,400 for 2011 is fully sponsored by a Rotarian and his family. Mentor in this case is Fedde Renkema, club education and vocational director

Phumlani Nyanga is on an 18-month course in business management at College of Cape Town. A bursary of ZAR18,520 is involved for 2011, sponsored by several Rotarians, including an Australian Rotarian sponsor. Mentor for Phumlani is Athol Rice, a member of RCHB and both are avid soccer fans.

 

  

Abigail Blaauw is undergoing a two-year diploma in business management at Rosebank College in Cape Town with a bursary of ZAR20,000 for 2011, fully sponsored by a Hout Bay family. An additional ZAR4,000 is also provided by a further family in Hout Bay family. Mentor in this case is Pat Whelan of Hout Bay.

 

 

THESE STUDENTS, AND MANY MORE, NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT.

HELP ROTARY CLUB OF HOUT BAY BRING SUCH YOUNGSTERS

INTO A BRIGHT FUTURE