Empower tomorrow’s leaders today through education

Northcliff residents Zanele Ngakane, Udumo Mazhindu and Mmanake Msiza have taken it upon themselves to empower young South Africans through education.

These three young intellectuals came together with five other talented young people to form the Black Professional Scholarship Fund (BPSF).

This dynamic youth group put their heads together and furthered the concept over two years which culminated in the official launch of the organisation in March this year.

BPSF is an initiative with the sole purpose of providing previously disadvantaged black youth with an opportunity to obtain a tertiary education. They will sponsor students in the fields of accountancy, law, medicine, engineering and actuarial science.

“These professions were chosen as it is in these that there is a great demand in our economy as well as an apparent lack of transformation,” said Mazhindu, who is BPSF head of Corporate Sponsorship.

BPSF has a mission to assist previously disadvantaged young black South Africans by providing them with the opportunity to access higher education in their chosen professions.

According to Mazhindu, BPSF is a call not only to provide financial support to its students, but also to assist in steering and developing the career of the student through a mentoring programme.

“As graduates and through our encounters with the difficulties of being at university, we found that the success of a student is not only dependent on the level of financial support, but students also require guidance in order to be successful. Thus, BPSF will mentor the students and provide advice and guidance where needed and where necessary,” Mazhindu said.

“If it was not for the people that funded us through university, we would not be where we are today, so this is a way for us to give back because we have seen how helping some can change their life,” said Tswelopele Tsotsotso BPSF, public relations manager.

BPSF will be funded through donations from individuals as well as companies.

A network of young people from different professions has been formed with each individual having committed to making a monthly contribution.

Individuals and companies are invited to make contributions toward this initiative.

BPSF is working toward placing the first student through university in 2015.

Thuto Motsie, Holoso Masilela, Yvonne Magopa, Bhekisizwe Mkhatshwa and Tswelopele Tsotsotso are also members of BPSF board of directors which consist of charted accountants and lawyers.