Let’s start January by stepping up and playing our part… while there’s very little a R10 donation can do on its own, collectively it has the power to change lives.
Johannesburg, South Africa (17 January 2022) – The founders of the #R10GoesALongWay education funding initiative have come up with a new challenge for South Africa! With the student funding application window now extended, donors across the country are being asked to rally family, friends and communities to secure one million donations of R10 in the next seven days.
Matric results will be shared on 21 January – making this a last nail-biting week for the class of 2021. For those who pass, it will move many closer to the threshold of tertiary education and taking the next step to the future of their dreams. For some, however, they will now face the first barrier of entry to these dreams: paying their registration fees for college or university.
“Without these fees being settled upfront, they will not be able to proceed as hoped and planned and will effectively lose their ‘place’ even if they’ve been accepted,” explains Mala Suriah, the Chief Marketing Officer of Fundi. “We want to ensure that doesn’t happen.”
#R10GoesALongWay one-million-challenge
Launched today, it’s a call to action to those who haven’t yet got involved and made a donation to do so within the next week – and encourage others to do the same.
“Our collective action is critical for the growing ‘missing middle’: those students trapped in no man’s land where they don’t qualify for NSFAS funding and whose parents are unable to pay their fees,” notes Suriah.
“These students are effectively excluded from tertiary education unless they’re able to access a bursary, or a family member is able to take out a loan on their behalf. Giving them a ‘hand-up’ with registration can move them closer to finding a solution – something the 106 beneficiaries from the 2021 campaign demonstrated.”
She adds that the number of applications already received from students requiring assistance speaks to the growing need Fundi anticipates this year.
“In 2021, we received over 19 000 applications in response to the campaign. We’ve just extended the application window to accommodate students who are perhaps waiting for their matric results before getting in touch with us. We urge students who need assistance to not only apply – but also to encourage their families, friends and networks to donate R10 towards the cause. Their contribution could make all the difference.”
With campaign founders and social media celebrities Lasizwe Dambuza, Nkateko “Takkies” Maswanganye, Sibu Mabena and Ayanda Mhlongo throwing their full weight behind the “one million challenge”, you’re encouraged to do the same.
“Let’s start January by stepping up and playing our part. While there’s very little R10 on its own can buy anymore, when pooled with that of others, it has the power to change lives,” concludes Suriah.
Donations towards this campaign can be made directly at www.fundifoundation.org.
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