St Mary’s Foundation is assisting underprivileged pupils in attaining a quality education.
St Mary’s School is well positioned in grooming skilled women to fill leadership roles in the public and corporate arenas. With a quality education, young South Africans can break the cycle of poverty and create a ripple effect of opportunity for generations to come.
Statistics indicate that out of 10 pupils who start Grade 8 in South Africa, only four make it to matric. In light of this, the foundation supports learners from disadvantaged backgrounds through bursary programmes and community outreach initiatives, opening doors for students and giving them the opportunity to excel at school and university. It provides one bursary for a senior school pupil each year, giving them the opportunity to obtain a holistic education experience at St Mary’s.
The foundation recently hosted a cocktail evening to highlight some of the incredible work that has been done and to demonstrate how the foundation plans to nurture the next generation of powerful, educated South Africans.
Foundation manager Gillian O’Shaughnessy said they have had great success so far with the foundation which was established in 2010. “We believe that we have a role to play to uplift the children who have academic talent,” she said.
She added that in order to sustain the programme, a big focus for them is to get more funding. “I think we have got the model, now it’s just about sustaining the programme to be able to continue it for another 20 years.”
Itumeleng Lesith, who is one of the five pupils in the St Mary’s Foundation bursary programme, said that being part of the foundation has helped her tremendously in her personal development. “I have learnt a lot about sisterhood and I am grateful for this opportunity. St Mary’s has groomed me a lot,” she said.
