The traditional year-end message reviews the past calendar year and gives a glimpse into expectations for the next one. For the CEO of an organisation like the Ikusasa Student Financial Aid Programme, this is a particularly pleasant task, because the smiles of our current students illustrate the effects that a bursary programme can have on promising young people. We are especially proud of those completing their degrees this year, while we share in the excitement of those who are continuing their studies in 2022 with the support of our team and, most importantly, our funders.
Our team focuses on doing two things well: ensuring that our existing bursary holders are supported in the ‘wrap-around way’ that we promise, while also working to secure more funders and sufficient funding from our existing donors. The more companies that support our work, the more students can be assisted to reach their study goals and complete their degrees. In turn, the contributions of our students who fill positions in the scarce skills occupations of the South African economy make us all stronger, together.
In that spirit we welcome Weir Minerals SA as a new funder for ISFAP bursaries. ‘Skills development is a core value at Weir Minerals and we are proud of our recent partnership with IFSAP, an organisation that aims to bridge the South African skills gap through education funding to South African university students from poor and middle-income families. As Weir Minerals, this vision is aligned to our global sustainability roadmap of fostering community/national partnerships in all the countries we operate,’ comments Tshidi Anya, Regional HR Director: Africa & Middle East.
We feel privileged to have the opportunity to make a contribution to support some students in the ‘missing middle’ to reach their study goals. We include in this newsletter a glimpse of their sentiments in some testimonials. There is also some other news in brief.
On behalf of the whole ISFAP team and our many supported students: thank you to you all for your support. Our very best wishes to you for a healthy, happy and fulfilling 2022.
