The Allan Gray Orbis Foundation has been named African Leaders in Secondary Education Funding for 2017 by the African Leaders 4 Change Awards.
The prestigious international awards identify, recognise and reward organisations doing exceptional work in all areas of philanthropy. The awards have been judged by a respected panel of voluntary sector heavyweights and leaders in their specific fields.
“We are humbled and incredibly proud to be named this year’s African Leaders in the Higher Education category, and to be in the company of remarkable organisations doing such important work on the continent. This award demonstrates the Foundation’s commitment to nurturing the entrepreneurial potential in the youth in our country because a culture of entrepreneurship is critical to moving South Africa forward,” says Allan Gray Orbis Foundation CEO, Yogavelli Nambiar.
Nambiar says the Foundation, a vision of Mr. Allan Gray and supported by Allan Gray (Pty) Ltd., aims to foster an ethos of high-impact and responsible young entrepreneurs who possess the tenacity and potential to help change the country and the world with their energy, curiosity and fresh, creative ideas. The Foundation identifies entrepreneurially-minded students on the cusp of entering high school, but in need of financial assistance, and provides them with scholarships to study at leading institutions. In addition to funding, she says Scholarship recipients receive access to customised initiatives to further their entrepreneurial talents.
“Our High School Scholarships help learners to cultivate and develop their entrepreneurial mindset, enabling them to think innovatively; and builds their personal mastery and leadership skills, which in turn enables academic excellence,” she says.
Further to this, the Foundation runs a Fellowship Programme which offers entrepreneurially minded Grade 12 learners, 1st and 2ndyear university students access to funding of their studies while receiving entrepreneurial learning and support.
“Entrepreneurship has the potential to create significant socio-economic impact, through its contribution to economic growth, job creation and social development. It is through the cultivation of that mindset in young people that we are going to make a meaningful change to the future” Nambiar says.
