In 2014, Safire Insurance embarked on its scholarship programme, one of many community and social development initiatives that it has initiated over the years since the company was established in 1987. Initially working solely with the well-respected Pietermaritzburg primary school Cordwalles Preparatory School for Boys, the programme seeks to provide quality, multi-faceted education for outstanding youngsters from disadvantaged backgrounds. Top-performing Grade 4 pupils are selected each year through a stringent process of interviews, with the emphasis on choosing well-rounded learners with all-round potential, including artistic and sporting talent as well as academic ability and personality.

Safire CEO Pierre Bekker says, “Safire wanted to establish this scholarship initiative so that talented all-rounders from disadvantaged communities would have an opportunity to become top leaders, because leadership is not only about achieving the best marks in the class”.

Safire supports several other youth programmes such as the Safire Learnership and Safire Internship programmes and Yes4Youth.

The second phase of Safire’s scholarship programme began in 2018, with the first pupil included in the programme, Andisa Young, progressing to one of the country’s leading high schools, Michaelhouse in Balgowan. Over the next few years, some of the country’s other top educational institutions became involved as high schools for the Safire programme scholars when they left Cordwalles. At the beginning of 2019, Kuhle Mthimkulu entered Maritzburg College on a sporting scholarship, having excelled in his years at Cordwalles, and in 2020, Lubanzi Zulu was accepted by Durban High School.

In March 2022, a new phase began for the Safire Scholarship programme when the Amathuba Foundation joined as a partner, aiming to facilitate customised additional funding and provide personalised mentorship to our scholarship boys at high school.

Ali Kingsley of the Amathuba Foundation says, “After the incredible opportunity that these boys are afforded to attend Cordwalles Preparatory School from Grades 4 to 7, there was a growing need to provide sound mentorship through their high school years. Amathuba has worked hard to become B-BBEE relevant and is able to offer points for Socio-economic Development and Skills Development spend. We can also issue Section 18A tax certificates for donations.”

Please email Ali Kingsley on info@amathubafoundation.org for details about how to contribute towards these outstanding youngsters becoming tomorrow’s leaders and visit https://amathubafoundation.org to discover more about the Amathuba Foundation.