In light of the success and continued expansion of the Siyandisa Foundation Scholarships, Planet Fitness has officially come on board as ‘fitness partner’ to the programme.
The partnership will include exciting benefits such as free gym memberships to all Siyandisa Foundation Scholarship recipients for the duration of their tertiary studies.
Through its Planet Academy, the first of its kind where the Health and Fitness training is conducted by leading Professionals in the industry, Planet Fitness also has a broader vision of providing learnerships, scholarships, bursaries and training opportunities to all Siyandisa Foundation Scholarship recipients in order to – should they have an interest in such - equip and empower them with the necessary skills sets to enter the fitness and other related industries, such as hospitality and tourism.
“Following the first successful Siyandisa Foundation Scholarships awarded to 25 deserving Free State learners in 2017, and having expanded nationally in 2018 through awarding 50 scholarships to the top grade 12 learners from all nine provinces, this strategic partnership will undoubtedly contribute meaningfully to the broad-based transformation of our economy and society. This partnership will not only benefit Siyandisa Foundation Scholarship recipients, but will reach the broader South African community through discounted membership rates at Planet Fitness gym facilities across the country,” says Cikizwa Bacela, Public Relations and Marketing Manager for Siyandisa Trust and the Siyandisa Foundation.
She points out that in 2017, the South African health and fitness industry was found to be the most lucrative globally, with South Africa’s gym industry raking in the highest revenue in the world. “This is, therefore, a prime area to empower and upskill the youth of South Africa and to meet such important objectives as job creation and youth health and wellness. Not only does this work in conjunction with objectives set out by government, but fits in well with Siyandisa Foundation’s key objectives of growing South Africa by investing in our future and collaborating for value.”