Telkom Foundation
The Telkom Foundation's investment in the high school education for a group of disadvantaged learners is paying off. All 35 Beacon of Hope learners who wrote Matric in 2011 have passed with 28 learners qualifying for Bachelor Degree entrance and 7 for Diploma entrance.
The group started out as Grade 8 learners in 2007 and are the first matriculants to complete their five years with Beacon of Hope. Another 140 learners are still on the programme which is envisaged to end in 2013.
Beacon of Hope is a one-of-a-kind programme for high-potential learners from various underprivileged communities. On being selected for Beacon of Hope, the learners were placed at leading boarding schools across South Africa. The Telkom Foundation took responsibility for funding; learner support and other form as of support for these learners. The Foundation is proud of these learners. By achieving a 100% pass rate, the first crop of Beacon of Hope matriculants are starting to unleash their potential, says Sarah Mthintso, head of the Telkom Foundation. "This is yet another way that the Foundation is helping to create a society where people can develop their talents, have access to meaningful opportunities and look to the future with excitement and hope".
We look forward to see many more succeed through this programme to become active participants in our economy.
