Youngsters get trust scholarships
Tsakane resident Banele Mello and seven other promising young people were recently selected for the prestigious Peermont Education Trust Scholarship, enabling them to further their studies.
In addition to having their fees paid, these lucky students will also benefit from the support of the Peermont team, in the form of mentorship and coaching, as well as workshops by Learning to Learn and Dynamic Intervention.
Together, all the service providers ensure that the students have the very best advantage and this is what enables the trust to maintain an 85 per cent pass rate.
The students will be mentored by the trust administrator, Jenny Findlay.
“This is the critical difference that the trust bursary offers, and it is extremely important for young people who come from disadvantaged communities,” said Findlay.
“By meeting with the students monthly, problems are identified early and assistance can be offered.”
For Mello, the scholarship means a chance to do a BSc Electrical Engineering degree at Wits University.
“I see myself as being part of a team of engineers who will innovate ideas that will shape South Africa’s production of electricity,” he said.
“As an electrical engineer I would be part of South Africa’s development and give back to my community by running learning programmes for high school learners.
“I am doing this for my peers, to show them that everything is possible when you know where you are going.”
Students are encouraged to plough back services into their communities, and as a result they have been conducting academic support programmes in their respective schools during holidays.
Over 100 young people have been granted full scholarships for tertiary courses.
