African Scholars Fund
The African Scholars Fund (ASF) was established in the Western Cape 1970’s to provide financial assistance to black high school students at the height of apartheid when black school education was under siege.
The founder, the late Margaret Elsworth, was supported by several volunteers who provided strategic advice and administrative support from their private homes. During this time of turmoil, schools were often at the center of the protest movement and many learners were arrested or fled the country. Despite these extreme hardships, the ASF persevered and endured as a privately funded and volunteer organization providing desperately need assistance to black scholars in impoverished areas. This continued until the fall of apartheid when the ASF was able to rent an office and hire paid staff needed to scale the operation.
Today, the ASF is still a privately funded organization and supports students in more than 60 high schools in marginalized communities, predominantly in the Western and Eastern Cape.
The ASF offers the following services to participating students:
- Financial assistance to help cover the cost of school fees, uniforms, and stationery.
- Grade 9 school subject “Choices Advice Booklet” – see link below.
- Grade 10/11 “Career Guidance Workbook” – see link below.
- Application guide to obtain funding for tertiary education.
Each school assigns a “Bursary Representative” who assists identifying participating students and administers the program internally.
Continued participation is contingent on maintenance of grades and students must reapply annually. The ASF reviews each student’s reports cards twice a year. A two-step audit process ensures that funds are received by the students and the ASF publishes audited financial statements annually.
We celebrate their achievements as they embark on different journeys beyond secondary education.
- 195 have enrolled in various universities.
- 21 are pursuing studies at Universities of Technology.
- 5 have enrolled in TVET Colleges, preparing for careers in technical and vocational fields.
- 67 are re-writing Mathematics and/Physical Sciences.
- 2 have been welcomed as Interns at Construction Companies (Civil Engineering).
- 5 immediately stepped into the world of work.
“During my final year of schooling, I faced significant personal challenges. While preparing for my exams, my house burned down to ashes. This was an extremely difficult and emotional time for me – however, despite these circumstances, I remained determined to succeed in my studies. With perseverance, discipline, and the support made possible through your bursary, I was able to complete my examination successfully and achieved a bachelor with two distinctions in my final results. This accomplishment would not have been possible without your belief in me and your continued support throughout my academic journey. Your investment has not only helped me obtain my results but has also motivated me to remain resilient and committed to achieving my future goals”.
MTUMTUM Okuhle – obtained a Bachelor pass and is now pursuing Economics Studies at Nelson Mandela University.
Quoting the ASF website:
“Our whole intention is focused on the learner, for their care and their benefit. There is no other fund quite like this. Other organizations focus on putting our youth through tertiary education, but this is not possible unless there is a supply of capable students to start with! No student reaches university without first going to school. No artisan begins training at an FET college without having first gone to school. In fact, there would be no students at the tertiary level unless they had successfully completed high school. This is what makes the organization so unique. It is an invaluable service that the ASF renders – we assist, guide, mentor and motivate our youth towards taking responsibility for their schooling and in being better prepared for their further education.”
The Nika Foundation has entered into a “Shared Value Partnership” with the ASF to support our Masiphumelele High School learners.
Links:
“Your funding made it possible for me to cover for my living expenses and school material such as uniform and stationery and it has been instrumental in my year end achievements. Thanks to your generosity, I was able to overcome a lot of financial barriers and resource limitations and stay on track towards achieving my goal to go to university. I’m truly grateful for your belief in my potential and for the ripple effect this support created. I’m committed to making the most of this opportunity. I believe that education is a powerful tool for change and I aspire to use my skills and knowledge to contribute positivity and beyond. Please accept my heartfelt thanks for your investment in my future, I will continue striving for excellence and give back to the community that has invested in me, I thank you”.
BITTERBOS Moilie – Grade 12, Tetlanyo HS (NC). Obtained a Bachelor pass; applied to the SANDF (South African Defense force).