Full scholarships for 5 youngsters

BENEFICIARIES FROM POOR SCHOOLS

As we all know, tertiary education is unaffordable for most young people in SA. Luckily, Graceland Hotel Casino & Country Club, through its CSI initiative, the Southern Highveld Community Development Trust (SHCDT), gives full scholarships to youngsters annually to help make their dreams come true.

This year, five candidates have been selected to have their tuition, accommodation and books covered as well as being given laptops by the trust.

Among them are three eMbalenhle residents, Mphoma Mokhethi, Cindy Mahlangu and Solomon Zucule. Also included in the Class of 2018 are Phindile Gule of Kinross and Sthembiso Mtsweni of Leslie.

Mokhethi, who matriculated from Kiriyatswane Secondary School, will now be able to study accounting science at the University of the Witwatersrand, and Mahlangu, who matriculated from Thomas Nhlabathi High School, will study B.Sc in chemical engineering, also at Wits.

Zucule, a product of Sizwakele Secondary School, will be heading to the University of Pretoria to study for a BEng in chemical engineering while Gule, another former Thomas Nhlabathi pupil, will continue her studies for a BA in environmental health at TUT.

Mtsweni, from Chief Ampie Mayisa High School, will do a B.Com finance at Wits

The final recipients were selected from hundreds of applications and had to make it through a stringent selection process and a nerve-wracking interview with a panel of judges.

In addition to having all costs paid in full, these fortunate students will also receive workshops and psychological support to sustain them throughout the academic year.

“Over the years we have found that we are able to increase our graduation rate by offering students additional support throughout the year. We do not just leave them to their own devices,” says trust manager Jenny Findlay.

“To this end the trust has achieved a 85% graduation rate for the past 10 years. This is exceptional considering that the students are from township schools and that the national graduation rate is 22%.”

Over the years we have found that we are able to increase our graduation rate by offering students additional support throughout the year. We do not just leave them to their own devices. Jenny Findlay trust manager