Merensky learner fundraising for US academic tour
Fourteen-year-old Zian de Beer is raising funds to join the 2026 academic tour to the US, visiting top universities like MIT and Harvard.
TZANEEN – Fourteen-year-old Zian de Beer, a Gr 8 learner at Merensky Agricultural Academy, is on track to join the prestigious Academic Achievers Tour to the United States in September 2026.
The tour honours South Africa’s top-performing learners with visits to elite institutions like Harvard, MIT, Yale, Princeton, and Columbia, as well as major landmarks such as the Statue of Liberty and the US Capitol.
For Zian, attending a lecture at MIT, a lifelong dream, is the highlight. The total cost of the trip is R89 890, with a R9 500 deposit already paid, thanks to community support and his dedication.
To raise money, Zian runs a mobile car wash, walks dogs, sells doughnuts at events, and assists in his aunt’s food trailer. In just 22 days, he raised R3 400 and has now saved R6 200.
The family has also sold nearly 100 raffle tickets, with more sales and a second raffle planned for December and January.
Zian, the fourth generation in his family to attend Merensky, is continuing the family legacy through academic achievement, rather than sport.
“This trip is my way of carrying our family legacy forward, in my own unique way,” he said.
To support Zian’s journey, contact his parents, Mariette at 082 300 7484 or Dippies at 083 530 8930.
