The United World College Scholarship Trust Of South Africa

What are the United World Colleges?

United World Colleges (UWC) is the only global educational movement that brings together students from all over the world at pre-university level, regardless of their ability to pay. Students are selected on merit and live together in an environment designed to foster international understanding, peace and justice.

The UWC Movement originated in the ideas of educationalist Kurt Hahn in the late 1950’s. Hahn and a number of colleagues who were instrumental in founding the movement recognised that much could be done to overcome the hostility of the Cold War if young people could come together at an age when they were already grounded in their own cultures but impressionable enough to learn from others. The vision become a reality in 1962 when Atlantic College opened in Wales.

Today there are twelve United World Colleges, each with its own distinctive character but sharing a common mission which is more relevant than ever. High academic standards, extensive community service and a wide range of cultural and outdoor activities are features of a UWC education. There is also great diversity: it is common for more than 80 nationalities to be represented at a College at any one time and students come from a very wide range of backgrounds. Graduates in excess of 30,000 are evidence of UWC’s success – in most cases, a personal commitment to peace and international understanding has become a central part of these graduates’ lives.

UWC Scholarship Trust of SA

A trust established in support of the United World Colleges movement to provide scholarships for South African students to attend the colleges in Canada, Costa Rica, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Norway, Singapore, Swaziland, the United Kingdom, The United States of America and Venezuela.

The UWC Scholarship Trust of South Africa has been in existence since 1979, when the first group of three students went to Atlantic College in Wales. Since then the Trust has provided over 130 UWC Scholarships to South African students.

The UWC Trust of South Africa is registered as a Section 18A Public Benefit Organisation and is responsible for selecting South African students to attend UWC colleges around the world. In addition, the trust takes care of administration, publicity and fundraising.

The day to day affairs of the Trust are taken care of by an Executive Committee of volunteers. The Executive Committee consists of ex-students as well as supporters and is accountable to the Board of Trustees. Regional Selection Committees and a National Selection Committee are appointed by the Trust to conduct the selection process and award scholarships. The selection committees include ex-students, educationalists and community leaders from a variety of backgrounds.

Applications are received annually from October to February from all over South Africa. Candidates need to be resident in South Africa at the time of applying. After an initial screening, regional selections are held each March in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban to select finalists for the national selections, which take place in late April.

Annual Review UWC SA April 2008
 

I am pleased to report on the affairs of the United World Colleges Scholarship Trust of South Africa for the twelve months to April 2008.

It is with regret I report that Bishop David Nkwe, our patron, died in January 2008. A letter of condolence was written to his widow. During the year Jeremy Lock retired from his active involvement in the trust’s activities. I would like to take this opportunity of thanking him for his enormous contribution over the years. He remains a trustee.

1. SCHOLARSHIPS

In 2007 the Trust awarded six scholarships as follows:

College Recipient
Atlantic Yash Pillay
Adriatic Bongani Ndlovu
Mahindra Ayesha Krige
Nordic Koketso Makhafola
UWC – USA Gareth Smit
Waterford KaMhalaba Nothando Kumalo

 

In 2008 the allocation of scholarships to the trust has been more limited. At the time of writing the only assured scholarships are Pearson College and Waterford. Adriatic College have allocated an “émigré scholarship” which is restricted to candidates of Italian descent. Partial scholarship offers were received from Costa Rica, Mahindra and Li Po Chun. The latter was declined and the others are dependent on funds being raised outside of the trust’s own resources.

Atlantic College offered two unfunded scholarships which we obviously had to decline. I am negotiating with the college for one fully funded scholarship.

This situation reflects the growing competition for scholarships by UWC member countries and a general shortage of funding.

Once again, I would like to express my sincere thanks to all those involved in the selection process which is the core activity of the trust. Your dedication and hard work ensures that we consistently produce top quality scholarship students!

2. SELECTION PROCESS

The regional and national selection chairs will report on their specific areas of responsibility at the AGM.

3. STUDENT REPORTS

Following a request at the previous AGM procedures have been put in place to ensure that reports are received from the colleges for all UWCSA students.

I am pleased to tell you that these reports have been of a generally high standard. Our students are performing well academically and contributing energetically to college life.

The reports are distributed to the trustees, office bearers, regional selection chairs and some committee members of UWCSA.

4. FINANCE

The audited accounts for the financial year ended December 2006 are to be approved at the AGM.

5. FUNDRAISING

The trust’s fundraising campaign was launched during the year and has been reasonably successful. A total of R260 000 has been raised against a budget of R300 000. Virtually all potential donors have been approached and there are no outstanding prospects.

The trust’s cash balances at 31 January 2008 totalled R411 477 which secures our operating and scholarship expenses for at least the next five years.

S18A tax receipts have been issued to all donors. I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their generosity.

In addition, funding for scholarships and related costs was received totalling approximately R233 000.

6. INVESTMENT STRATEGY

The size of the trust’s cash balances necessitate a discussion of investment strategy at the AGM.

7. TRUSTEES & PATRONS

The appointment and resignation of trustees has been finalised with the Master of the High Court. The only outstanding resignation is that of Claudia Koch.

The appointment of patron(s) will be discussed at the AGM.

8. NETWORK

Continued progress was made during the year in the development of a database of UWC graduates. This is now in a format which can be used for communication purposes.

The majority of this work was done by Kate-Louise McCay who is now living in England. The maintenance of the database has been taken on by Taya Darch.

It would seem a sensible strategy to utilise the Facebook facility to access and communicate with UWC’ers. This was raised in Nikesh Parbhoo’s report on the Africa Regional Conference.

9. COMMUNICATION

The regular communication with the Colleges and the International Office continues. A report on the trust’s activities is distributed to the colleges each year in September which is shortly prior to the allocation of scholarships.

The UWCSA website is regularly updated and much positive comment has been received about it.

10. AFRICAN REGIONAL MEETING

This was held in September in Nairobi, Kenya. Nikesh Parbhoo represented UWCSA. He circulated a report on the conference on 6 November 2007 and will discuss this at the AGM.

David Leslie
Chairman
United World Colleges Scholarship Trust of South Africa

site by Bloomer