Ruta Sechaba Foundation in partnership with Exxaro has awarded ten high school scholarships to learners from across the Limpopo Province. These learners will be starting their Grade 8 in 2023 at the Northern Academy High School managed by Curro Holdings in Polokwane. The scholarship covers 100% school fees, boarding fees, full uniforms, electronic devices and transport. This partnership will be funding and supporting a total of 50 learners over a period of nine years at Northern Academy High School. These scholarships were handed over at a ceremony at the school on Monday, 9 January 2023.
Exxaro is a South African-based diversified resources company with a robust coal business and acquisitive growth prospects in minerals and energy solutions. Its major operations are in Limpopo and Mpumalanga.
“Through our various community empowerment programmes, we strive to equip young people with the skills for the future workplace. These scholarships are our way of ensuring that young minds get the best possible high school education and are well prepared to become the leaders of tomorrow,” says Tumi Motlana, Senior Specialist, Community Development at Exxaro.
Overall, the Ruta Sechaba Foundation and Exxaro partnership will be funding a total of 100 learners over nine years in two schools in the Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces with the Northern Academy High School accommodating learners from Limpopo and Meridian Karino in Nelspruit accommodating learners from Mpumalanga. “A total of 20 Grade 8 learners will be funded for their entire high school academic years starting in 2023,” says Natasha Mkhize from the Ruta Sechaba Foundation.
A foundation that creates access to quality education
The Ruta Sechaba Foundation is a non-profit organisation that identifies bright underprivileged learners across South Africa who need financial assistance to reach their full potential and create opportunities for them to access quality education. The foundation is committed to fostering talent beyond economic limitations and aims to build a bright future for tomorrow’s leaders by providing high school scholarships, bursaries, and awards to qualifying black learners at Curro or Curro-managed schools.
One of the scholarship recipients, Dikeledi Salome Moloantoa, said: “This is one of the best opportunities I will ever be offered in my entire life, I have never imagined that I would be able to get a full scholarship for my entire high school years. I’m grateful for this opportunity, it will literally change my life and the future for my family.”
The Ruta Sechaba Foundation worked with the circuit managers from the Department of Basic Education to recruit qualifying learners at public schools in the regions. All the learners who applied followed the correct application process which also included a baseline assessment on Mathematics and English.