About Us

INTRODUCTION:

The Beaufort West Study Trust (BWST) 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.

BWST

Your Child Our Future