Dean Du Chenne’s memory lives on in his friends generosity by funding students studies. The “Dootch” fund changes students futures.
Dean Du Chenne was fatally struck by lightning while working on a farm in Alberta, Canada. Dean was affectionatly known as “Dootch” by all his friends. He had a passion for bettering people, always wanting to help those less fortunate than him.
Dean’s circle of friends created the “Dootch Fund” in honour of him. A way to continue Dean’s passion for people, by creating a fund that will help people. The fund selects an undergrad student from Rhodes University each year and helps pay towards their education. The fund was started in 2012, and to date has distributed R 104 980.00 to each of the funds beneficiaries. Currently there have been 3 students to receive the funding.
Gugu, one of the students, applied for the fund to assist with her Honours studies in Microbiology.
“I applied for the Dean Du Chenne Educational Trust (Dootch Fund) Post-Graduate Bursary and was extremely overjoyed that post-graduate studies would be reality. Through engagement with the Dootch Fund team throughout my honours year, frequent check-ins, assistance with any issues and mentorship”
“I ask that the Dootch Fund family and friends continue the great work that they have been doing in order to bridge the access to quality education for young, talented and deserving South African youth.”
Poloko Prudence Mosesi has been the latest student to received funding towards furthering her studies.
“In the final year of her undergraduate degree, she achieved a distinction for her full set of subjects and made it on to the Dean’s Merit list. Poloko registered for a joint Honours in Politics and Sociology. Despite the challenges which she faced in 2016 with the widespread protests across campus, she managed to score 70% in both of her mid-year exams. Poloko is an incredible ambassador for The Fund and we are extremely proud of her achievements.”
Each year the fund holds multiple successful fundraising events. There is an annual “Dootch Weekend” where everyone gets together and camps at the Vaal river, the weekend hosted in 2016 was the most successful one to date. They also sell raffle tickets which is a massive contributing factor to the fund.
“We went river rafting, watched the Bokke beat Wales in the Rugby World Cup Quarter Final and danced the night away – a weekend that Dootch would have been proud of. It was also our most successful
event from a fundraising perspective” – Dootch weekend 2015.
The funds future is bright! They will be looking to grow and hopefully start funding students at other universities.
In November last year Dootch’s friends Colin & Justin were on “The Good Stuff” show on Cliff Central to discuss the fund.
“Dootch’s” friends put together this amazing tribute video to him and two of the funds beneficiaries expressed their gratitude for the help towards their educations.
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