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Volkswagen Group South Africa (VWSA) is counting the gains of its financial, emotional and educational support to the children of its employees. Under the Volkswagen for Good initiative, VWSA has been funding and supporting children of its employees at school since 2010 and University since 2014, with the support allowing these learners to soar in their studies.
The programme, Children of VW Bursary, looks at placing children of Volkswagen employees in private schools. And together with the drive and dedication of the learners and the funding they receive, the school learners have gone on to be prefects and school leaders, that have finished academically in the top five of their respective grades. Learners are not only assisted financially but are supported with extra mathematics and science classes on a Saturday. They are also closely monitored and if they are struggling or there is a drop in their results they are mentored and receive additional classes at their school. Forty-Six learners have been supported by this bursary scheme with 22 enrolled in various grades in 2017.
The matric learners are given the opportunity to attend the ISASA academic camp as well as receiving career assessments and University application assistance from TEN (Tsebo Education Network).
The Community Trust Bursars are children of Volkswagen employees who are enrolled at university. The university students racked up an impressive 26 distinctions in 2016. Five of the students are studying engineering with the remaining studying either Commerce/Accounting or Business Studies.
VWSA in partnership with REAP (Rural Education Access Programme) is sponsoring an additional 15 university students. REAP selects the top learners from rural areas of the Eastern Cape and Volkswagen funds them at university.
Commenting on the uniqueness of the programme, Group Chairman and Managing Director, VWSA, Thomas Schaefer, said: “These bursary programmes show real support to the students in the form of finances, emotional support and educational support. It is relatively easy to give money to a student and then send them off on their own to complete their studies. What makes these programmes different is that the team at the Community Trust are involved in the lives of these children, we give them all the tools and support they need to succeed.”
