About Umama Wothando Trust
Umama Wothando trust was started in 2009 when Mrs Hardebeck made a decision to leave her funds in a Trust for the advancement of under and post graduate study for previously disadvantaged learners who had proved themselves academically through successful application to undergraduate studies.
Mrs Hardebeck passed away on 15th August 2014, after a protracted illness and now continues to support candidates posthumously through the Trust she started. Her initial and subsequent wishes remain the same: We are mandated, as trustees, to find worthy candidates and then provide support for them; in financial form, so that they can focus purely on their studies rather than being sidetracked by having to find funds to manage the course.
Our mandate includes (where necessary) the provision of laptops; tuition fees; accommodation and other sundries which would form part of a holistic approach of support for academic endeavor.
We have, since our inception, adjusted this provision to include coaching; mentoring and family systems resolution (when applicable) in order to assist our candidates to transition during a period of personal and professional growth in their post graduate studies. This fundamental support structure has ensured coherent emotional growth during a time of immense personal challenge; and pays dividends in excellent throughput rates. Our numbers are testimony to our belief that personal growth and clear accountability structures bear fruit in results which have sometimes surpassed even our expectations.
We set clear personal and academic targets and are proud of each of our candidates who have accepted the responsibility as a recipient of a UWT bursary and embody personal development; self awareness; transparent accountability and a deep sense of their value to our country.
We began interviewing candidates in 2010 based on certain criteria after the formal part of the Trust had been finalized.
The criteria were and remain relatively simple, candidates:
- Had to have completed matric studies and been accepted into some form of under or Post Graduate study.
- Had to be patriotic to South Africa and be filled with a spirit of generosity; and be excited to pay it forward in some way. This did not have to be financial; but could be in kind or in mentoring others.
- A criterion was also that these candidates would have to be invested to stay here; and not use their studies as a stepping stone for international/global careers which would see our investment lost to SA.
- Had to be academically strong enough to graduate with a under or post graduate qualification if the application for support funding was successful.
- The criteria did not preclude any areas of study and all manner of under or post graduate study would be evaluated on a personal basis
Successes
2 of our candidates (Lulu Mzili and Stella Mkiliwane) have earned their Masters degrees cum laude. Both are single mothers; both work full time: Lulu in Marketing & Business Development; and Stella as the Director of an NGO specializing in refugee support and management. Lulu completed her MBA through UNISA and Stella her Masters in International Development Administration through Andrews University in the USA.
Nazira Kara completed her Honor's in Clinical Psychology at WITS with Distinction; whilst Nobuntu Sibisi obtained a Distinction for her Masters Thesis for her MCom Degree; completed at UJ.
2 of our Masters candidates are now pursuing their PhD’s in their respective fields of Economics and Clinical Psychology. Both having achieved superb results, which have provided the platform to start their Doctoral Thesis.
Whilst these are laudable attainments our other successes are less quantifiable and also commendable. Some of our candidates have taken on new paths; leaving jobs to pursue passions in development; or shifting perspectives and starting social enterprises. Some have grown in their ability to take on new tasks and are building new visions for their lives. Their transformations have been academic; emotional; mental and spiritual. Their growth has been seen in the following behaviours:
Nazira Kara completed her Honor's in Clinical Psychology at WITS with Distinction; whilst Nobuntu Sibisi obtained a Distinction for her Masters Thesis for her MCom Degree; completed at UJ.
2 of our Masters candidates are now pursuing their PhD’s in their respective fields of Economics and Clinical Psychology. Both having achieved superb results, which have provided the platform to start their Doctoral Thesis.
Whilst these are laudable attainments our other successes are less quantifiable and also commendable. Some of our candidates have taken on new paths; leaving jobs to pursue passions in development; or shifting perspectives and starting social enterprises. Some have grown in their ability to take on new tasks and are building new visions for their lives. Their transformations have been academic; emotional; mental and spiritual. Their growth has been seen in the following behaviours:
- Moving to organisations where they can best add value to the country whilst sustaining themselves
- Offering after graduating; time to mentor the new candidates through similar degrees
- Starting NGO’s to mentor and assist high school students
- Growing their own personal projects to assist youth at risk
- Taking on new jobs which are far beyond their previous dreams thereby showing a growth in their confidence to take on new challenges
- Starting new enterprises and exploring their entrepreneurial flair in small business development