BUSINESS PLAN
INTRODUCTION:
The Beaufort West Study Trust is a
public benefit organization, registered as PBO 930029271 in accordance with its
exemption from taxation from donations received and/or allocations made. The
Trust was established in October 1999 and registered in terms of Act 57 of 1988
on 25 April 2008.
It is governed by a BOARD of TRUSTEES, which executes its
fiduciary mandate in the best interests of indigent matriculants with
educational merit for undergraduate studies at tertiary institutions and, the
donor agencies.
THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
October 1999, the advent of the FOUNDERS, under the leadership of mr MSJ
Louw, retired high school principal, establish the Beaufort West Study Trust.
The Beaufort West public took to
the idea immediately but failed to take initial ownership when its time was
due.
Beaufort West is the victim of a
perennial stream of early school leavers who end up standing watch in the
endless unemployment queues. The source of the problem is endemic poverty.
Successful matriculants are caught up in the dire lack of opportunities to
further their academic abilities and vocational skills.
Through its tertiary bursary scheme
the Trust endeavours to enhance the educational emancipation of a poor
community in a state of distress.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Beaufort West is a familiar, dusty,
rural oasis in the poverty-stricken Great Karoo. It lies approximately halfway
in-between Cape Town and Johannesburg, the city of gold, on the main road and
rail arterial of industrialisation.
The arid rocky soil of the town and
the die-hard vegetation makes it conducive to sheep and wool farming. The recent discovery of viable uranium
deposits will ultimately introduce industrialisation and environmental
challenges to the equilibrium of the Karoo. The demographic profile of the town
is as follows:
RURAL POPULATION – 37 090
FEMALES –
19 792
MALES –
17 208
UNDER
18 YRS – 14 888
The town is characterised by
extremely high levels of unemployment (probably above 40%) as evidenced by the
manifestation of an extremely high incidence of school dropouts, teenage
prostitution, alcohol and drug dependence and teenage criminality. These occur
and re-occur as generational phenomena. Until and unless these vicious cycles
of poverty are challenged, such phenomena would increase their stranglehold on
communities under siege.
The urban-rural social and economic
disparities are singularly enormous as amplified by Mamphela Ramphele and
Francis Wilson in their seminal research ‘UPROOTING
POVERTY – The SA Challenge’ – 1989. The rich and poor dichotomy is even
worse in terms of race.
The infamous investigative
television documentary named ‘SPECAL
ASSIGNMENT – TRUCK STOP (2007), as broadcast by the SABC, produced shocking evidence of a solicitous relationship among
highway truckers hibernating overnight in the town while acting the part of
sexual predators of minors as young as 13 years. These teenage prostitutes are
lured with income and promises of steady relationships with the predators.
We are of the view that educational
incentives with social inducements towards the amelioration of poverty are
indispensable in the battle for the soul of the nation.
That is why we, as a registered
legal entity, have embarked on the cause of the provision of bursaries to reach
the unreachable, the ‘poorest of the poor’, with educational merit. Thus, we
embraced among others, medical and engineering students as outstanding bursars.
Our Bursary Scheme was initiated in
2007 with the following undergraduates having been assisted since then:
2007 – 3
2008 – 9
2009 – 13
2010 – 8
2011 – 4
2012 – 9
2013 – 6
TOTAL:
52
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES:
TO SOLICIT REQUISITE FUNDING TO CARRY OUT THE MANDATE.
TO EMPLOY SUCH FUNDS SOLELY FOR THE BENEFIT OF INDIGENT, ACADEMICALLY
SOUND UNDERGRADUATES.
MODUS OPERANDI:
APPLICATIONS FOR BURSARIES ARE FROM MATRICULANTS OF ALL FOUR HIGH
SCHOOLS.
APPLICATIONS ARE SCREENED AND EVALUATED BY THE AD HOC COMMITTEE.
A MEASUREMENT TOOLKIT IS UTILISED TO MEASURE LEVELS OF POVERTY &
ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE.
TARGET POPULATION:
Extremely poor yet academically
sound matriculation candidates are shortlisted.
The matriculant population of the
BEAUFORT WEST HIGH SCHOOLS.
Collaboration with GRANDWEST CASINO
and RURAL EDUCATION ACCESS PROGRAM
In respect of facilitating a
limited number of bursaries form their pool.
We do not discriminate on the basis
of colour or creed, gender or class.
THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES:
The Board of Trustees currently
consists of four members. It has no full- or part-time employees so as to , as
a matter of priority, ensure that the bursars get the full benefit of its
income. Only the Trustee responsible for
Fundraising & PR receives R 1000.00 per month as an Honorarium towards his
expenses as incurred. All four Trustees are former residents of Beaufort West.
It is an honour for us to plough something back in the community where we were
brought up.
THE APPLICATION FOR A GRANT:
An annual MAYORAL GOLF DAY as established since 2006 raises funds on behalf
of the Trust for the benefit of our Bursary Scheme. The average annual income
amounts to R 65 000.00.
The mayoral staff and amateur
golfers of THE BEAUFORT WEST GOLF CLUB
are responsible for the operational activities of the day.
The impact of this income, coupled
with subscriptions and donations are the backbone of our financial situation
while additional sources of funding would enable us towards gaining a more
realistic funding base.
The highly lamentable incidence of
school dropouts provides the primary source of vast skills shortages,
unemployment and under-employment.
Access to educational opportunities is an inalienable, basic human
right as enshrined in our Constitution and Bill of Rights.
We sincerely believe that educational and social inducements towards
the education, training and youth leadership advancement of the ‘leaders of
tomorrow’ are imperative. In the spirit of ‘ubuntu’ we rise to our challenge to
fulfil our AIMS AND OBJECTIVES.
However, your invaluable contribution towards a highly deserving cause
will be indispensable to us.
We make a plea for your generous enabling financial support.
EDWARD TOMAS ORR
TRUSTEE (FUNDRAISING & PR)
