We could not be prouder of the Siyandisa Foundation Class of 2021 who together amassed a total of 242 distinctions with an average of 5 distinctions per scholar at the release of the matric results in January 2022. Despite various obstacles such as the global pandemic, recurrent power outages, the new rotational learning system which reduces the amount of contact time scholars have and an ever-changing schooling landscape across the board, our exemplary scholars managed to achieve praiseworthy results.
For many of our Siyandisa Foundation scholarship recipients achieving such results is a game-changer, as most South African scholars are faced with a myriad of hurdles beyond the classroom which often hinder academic focus and consequently, progress. Despite such challenges, these future leaders have continuously displayed resilience, buoyancy and the willpower to succeed and now have precisely the right achievements behind their named to enable a bright future.
This bodes very well for their upcoming studies at the top universities across the country, as well as promising future internship and employment opportunities at leading institutions and companies following their tertiary qualifications.
“One would have never thought the load of matric life could be lightened, even despite sprinkles of hardship here and there. This was all made possible by the Siyandisa Foundation, enabling me to sail through my matric year especially because of the additional online revision lessons we were afforded for almost all subjects. Thank you very much for supporting me throughout the challenges that came with being a matriculant. I can proudly say that life did not see my success coming”, says Lusanda Siwela, a 2021 Siyandisa Foundation scholarship recipient. This young scholar from Little Flower Secondary School in Kwazulu-Natal obtained six distinctions and an average of 87,3% in his final matric results.
“Our scholars clearly benefit enormously from the resources and support provided in our programme, and we observe the impact of these resources not only in the individual performances of each scholar but also in the overall group performance including the feedback from schools in the communities from which they hail each year,” says Cikizwa Bacela, Siyandisa Foundation Programme Coordinator.
“The tablet and the data received played a huge role in enhancing my knowledge, as well as assisted me in availing myself to help other students who were experiencing data challenges and problems accessing learning resources. So not only am I honoured, but I am super grateful for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that was given to me”, adds Siwela. He remarks that the assistance and support provided by the Siyandisa Foundation is “top tier” and to top it all, the financial support has also helped alleviate pressure for his family.
Siwela is one of 225 proud recipients of the Siyandisa Foundation scholarship programme which had begun in 2017. As the programme evolves and continues on its quest to support learners in achieving academic excellence in otherwise challenging conditions, we continuously see the value of our support in the outstanding results achieved.