Grandwest has an eye on future
INVESTMENT: SUCCESSFUL BURSARY PROGRAMME The fund grants have amounted to almost R22 million in 13 years.
GrandWest paid out over R570 000 in bursaries during 2020 to assist students studying and living in the Western Cape. This brings to almost R22 million the amount that GrandWest has invested since its bursary scheme was first launched in 2007.
During the ensuing 13 years the casino has enabled 1 427 students to study.
The class of 2020 hailed from areas such as Samora, Pelikan Park, Montana, Gansbaai, Strand, Khayelitsha, Phillipi, Durbanville, Loevenstein, Phoenix, Malmesbury, Nyanga, Bellville, Kensington, all of which have socio-economic issues and relatively high levels of crime.
The 14 bursaries awarded in 2020 were to students studying at the University of the Western Cape, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Stellenbosch University and IHT Hotel School.
GrandWest General Manager Mervyn Naidoo said: “Last year was a challenging one. Over a million jobs were lost and we all experienced extreme hardships. Despite this, and in spite of being closed for four months in 2020, I am immensely proud that we were still able to honour our commitments.
“Through our GrandWest Bursary Programme we aim to fund disadvantaged students who do not have the financial means to study fulltime.
“Bursaries are awarded to address scarce and future skill requirements in South Africa broadly as well as with specific focus on the hospitality sector.”
The academic year was also severely disrupted in 2020, with many institutions closing in accordance with a lockdown imposed to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.
However, this did not stop those with aspirations from continuing to work towards their dreams.
GrandWest awards bursaries for several fields of study, including geology, environmental and water science, biodiversity and conservation biology, accounting, mechanical engineering, construction health and safety, as well as science chemistry.
Bursaries are earmarked for people who want to improve their lives and their communities, and the only requirement – apart from proving need – is that students must reside and study in the Western Cape, be studying full-time, and spend 40 hours paying it forward.
Western Cape Minister of Education Debbie Schäfer attended the event, telling the graduates: “Very well done to those who continued to study last year, which was an extremely difficult year for everyone.”
Twenty percent of GrandWest CSI’s annual spend is on educational projects. Funding of the bursary fund is over and above GrandWest CSI’s regular yearly contribution to education in the Western Cape. – Citizen reporter
Last year was a challenging one. Over a million jobs were lost and we all experienced extreme hardships. Despite this, and in spite of being closed for four months in 2020, I am immensely proud that we were still able to honour our commitments to our bursary students.
Mervyn Naidoo, GrandWest General Manager