#Action4Inclusion

Overview

We are on a mission to make education accessible to all, regardless of financial background. Our aim is to help students who are struggling with debt to continue their studies, graduate with ease and ultimately become successful members of society.

“I firmly believe that a lack of funding should not inhibit success, and access to education should not be dependent on wealth. As a society, we have to make an effort to invest in social justice. It starts with giving a fair start to every child and every young person regardless of their race, gender, and socioeconomic status. Inclusive development involves everyone and doesn’t leave anyone behind.” – Prof Thuli Madonsela

The #Action4Inclusion (#A4I) initiative was launched in 2020 as a collaborative endeavour by the Student Representative Council at Stellenbosch University (SU); the University’s inaugural director of the newly established Centre for Social Justice (former Law Trust Chair in Social Justice), Prof Thuli Madonsela; the former dean of the SU Faculty of Law, Prof Sonia Human; and other social justice ambassadors. This is one of several initiatives that fall under the University’s Bridge the Gap Annual Fund. This fund enables the community to support our students and close the gap between talent and financial need – something we all care about.

“We are kick-starting our support for the #Action4Inclusion initiative with the 2023 Varsity Cup season, considering its commitment and strong history of changing lives. Maties Sport represents a strong footprint, both internally and externally, and through our various sport initiatives, we aim to make a difference in the lives of SU students.” – Ilhaam Groenewald, Stellenbosch University Chief Director: Maties Sport.

Join us for our latest event, on 30 September 2023 in Dublin, Ireland!

#Action4Inclusion Bursary Fund

The #A4I Bursary Fund is currently low, but with your support, we can make a significant difference in the lives of our students. Once the fund reaches R100 000, we will start the disbursement to provide financial assistance of up to R20 000 to undergraduate SU students to help pay for registration fees or graduation debt. In exceptional circumstances, the disbursement committee may consider increasing the graduation assistance amount up to a maximum of R50 000 per student, as determined by the committee. Bridge the Gap is not a full-cost study bursary, but a top-up or support fund for undergraduate students at SU in instances where all other avenues of funding have been exhausted. Undergraduate students must meet the minimum academic requirements for re-admission or for graduation each year. The fund will support returning SU students who struggle to pay all or part of the annual registration fees at the beginning of the academic year, as well as final-year students who have demonstrated a need for financial support towards graduation debt. A committee consisting of one social justice ambassador and two University representatives, comprising one member from the Bursaries and Loans Office and one member from the Centre for Social Justice, will oversee the distribution of funds. This committee will receive the latest SU student debt list by the end of November every year and will identify final-year SU students with debt on their accounts. Selected students will then be contacted and invited to apply with strong justification for support. Undergraduate students must demonstrate the need for financial assistance via a formal one-page signed justification if they want to benefit from the registration or end-of-year student debt relief support.