For the past eight years, Alacrity has been one of the supporting companies to the Kay Mason Foundation's scholarship programme, aimed at high school learners in the Western Cape. The organisation provides scholarships for the payment of school fees, boarding fees and extras, like uniforms, sports equipment, textbooks, transport and pocket money to high school learners that need it most.
Boasting a 99% pass rate among children that are part of the programme, the international organisation has a well-developed and sustainable programme to support the learners that are chosen through an application process each year.
Focused on disadvantaged children as a whole, the organisation works in association with a network of achieving schools to provide a high level of education and related activities to these talented children that are driven to achieve their goals, but who, considering their current circumstances, are unlikely to reach their potential.
“Over the eight years of our involvement, Alacrity has supported five learners in total, and we're currently considering another applicant. Two of the students are already attending tertiary institutions and a further three are currently completing high school,” comments Teresia Arendse, HR Executive for Alacrity, “We maintain contact with the students that we have helped 'put through' high school and recently received letters of thanks from them. Excerpts from these show just how much of an impact our financial and support contribution means and were just too good not to share.”
* “I live in a community, which encourages violence, alcohol, crime and teenage pregnancy. Girls do not value themselves or their bodies anymore. It is not easy being different, and by different I mean: reading novels, taking part in sports at school and abstaining from some social activities. Before I was part of the Kay Mason Foundation, I attended a primary school, which was not very good. [Thanks to the KMF] I now attend Camps Bay High School and have been placed in the top of my year several times. Recently, I received an academic merit, [and] I also got a merit for an English Olympiad I wrote, sponsored by De Beers. At school, I am involved in the choir, Interact, inter-house plays, first team basketball, PR for upcoming events and lots more. When I grow up, I would like to be a financial director for a major company.
“Without the Kay Mason Foundation and my kind donors at Alacrity, I would be in the townships, probably with a two-year-old son or daughter, trying to feed them. However, the Foundation and my donors have helped me achieve my goals and be where I am today. They take a constant interest in how I am doing, make sure I have everything I need and have the brightest prospects for the future. Through their help and my school, I have learnt to be confident, competitive, strong and have pride.”
* “When I graduate I will actually have two degrees because I am taking a BA LLB, meaning I will have a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in PPA (Public Policy and Administration, African Indigenous Languages Studies and Xhosa as well as an LLB degree...) Thank you Teresia and Alacrity for allowing me the opportunity to go to such a prestigious school. I will forever cherish all that I learnt there and use it as a tool to enhance my future.”
* “Westerford provided me with a great education, and one that is proving very helpful, I was able to get involved in many activities that are just not available at the poorer schools as well as get good marks in Matric. I was also able to make some great friends, who have also gone on to study and work in interesting areas. Alacrity and the Kay Mason Foundation have given me a boost to reach my goal, and thanks to them I am now closer to my dream of working my way out of poverty more than I have ever been.”
“The KMF is extremely efficiently run. Their scrutiny process, ongoing support and post-school mentorship programme is the reason for the success they're showing, and we're extremely proud of what the learners we support have and continue to achieve. Importantly too, the team of people that run the organisation is authentic, they know that the impact they're having extends to more than the over 60 learners that they've helped and the many more that will go through their programme. We will continue to support their work and are proud to be known as an enabler to the students' success,” concludes Arendse.
The Kay Mason Foundation was started by well-known author Richard Mason and has Archbishop Desmond Tutu as its patron. More information on the foundation, how to contact them and support their programme, is available on their Web site http://www.kaymasonfoundation.org.
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