R1,5 million bursary fund for agri workers’ families

The Two-a-Day Education Trust, together with other subsidiary companies of Two-a-Day, has made

R1,5 million in bursaries available for 2021.

According to Fergusson Oppelt, a trustee of the Two-a-Day Education Trust, this investment would provide 100 aspiring young people with the opportunity to become more marketable to businesses in the Grabouw region and elsewhere.

“It’s the first step to a successful career and will hopefully set the foundation for greater things to come for them,” Oppelt said in a statement.

In addition, the trust was also helping to reduce the often punitive transport and accommodation costs associated with tertiary education by offering distance learning and on-site lectures at the Grabouw Skills Centre.

According to the statement, prospective students could study in any field they chose. Dimitri Jacobs, human resources director at Two-a-Day, said: “We advertised to all our factory workers too, as we’re offering business and management qualifications for all employees’ children who are not going to study this year, and who are unemployed.”

He added that the leadership course being offered at the skills centre consisted of seven modules, including business management, leadership development, and project management, and was being presented by industry experts.

Tru-Cape managing director Roelf Pienaar, also a parttime lecturer in finance, said the role of tertiary education in equipping people for a career that could generate a lifelong income could not be underestimated. “Finding a job even with a suitable education is harder than ever before, but a business-focused education in particular can equip one with the entrepreneurial skills to create jobs and really make a difference for a sustainable future.”

Since 2016, about 300 students had benefitted financially from the trust.

Dr Anthony Hess, chairperson of the trust, said the students came from Two-a-Day member farms.

“It’s not only children of workers, but also workers themselves who have taken up the opportunity to further qualify themselves. Some have [since taken] up administrative positions at Two-a-Day and on various farms.”

The different courses being offered to the students at the centre were equivalent to those offered at universities and FET colleges, he added.

TWO-A-DAY Participants in the Saturday leadership course being offered through Grabouw Skills Centre and supported by Two-a-Day Education Trust.