Four bursaries have been made available through Aries Solar Power for the community of Kenhardt. These bursaries are available for 2020 and are open to new artisan study applications, in addition to local teaching, nursing, and artisan students who need assistance with tuition fees for 2020.
Three of the four bursaries are earmarked for artisans, an approach that hopes to address local unemployment as well as the shortage of specialist skill and trades.
“If young people study a trade that equips them to start their own businesses, it will help boost local employment and increase the skills pool in the Kenhardt community, ” said Tsholofelo Moote, Economic Development Practitioner at Aries Solar Power, who is hoping that learners and students already studying will be bold and grab this opportunity for funding support.
The 2020 academic year bursaries are being promoted at Kenhardt High School and the within the Kai !Garib Municipality, with applications closing on 31 July 2020. The primary stipulation is that applicants must live within 50km from the Aries Solar Power Plant, which is just outside of Kenhardt.
Bursary beneficiaries receive tuition fees, travel and accommodation costs, book allowances and even a stipend.
Previous bursary beneficiary, Herschelle Williams, who was a learner at Kenhardt High School, is fulfilling his dream to become a teacher thanks to the bursary programme.
“I have always wanted to be a teacher – I felt this was the best way to help people and be a role model for the youth in my community,” Williams said. With the assistance of an Aries Solar Power Bursary, he achieved a Bachelor of Education degree at the University of the Western Cape.
This scholarship programme was launched four years ago, to provide the opportunity to local school graduates, with the hope that once qualified, these young people will return home to the small town of Kenhardt, and plough their skills back into this community.
“If graduates and young professionals return to this town, it will have a ripple effect and ultimately mean that Kenhardt will no longer need to recruit specialist skills from other parts of the country,” Tsholofelo explained.
The Aries Solar Power Bursary programme, which launched in October 2016 has already benefited 12 local youth, who are now studying at tertiary institutions including University of Stellenbosch, University of Western Cape, University of Pretoria, University of Free State, Cape Peninsula University of Technology and Hugenote College.
