Mathiba Molefe
Masego “Maps” Maponyane says he wants to make lasting difference in the lives of as many people as he can. So much can be achieved through active citizenship, he adds. (Image: Mathiba Molefe)
Maps Maponyane, the Play Your Part ambassador, entrepreneur, TV presenter and model, has set into motion an initiative to help promising students pay for their education and pursue their dreams.
The Bursary Network was prompted by issues brought to light by the #FeesMustFall movement, which voices the concerns of students about the costs of education at South African universities.
Many students find their road to success blocked by the cost of further education. It is this need that is at the heart of the crowd-funding initiative, which is involving the public and giving them an opportunity to make a telling difference.
The network uses crowd-funding to raise the money needed for students to enrol at colleges and universities. People are encouraged to play their part and help South Africa’s youth fulfil their potential – in other words, contribute to the fund.
“I think Bursary Network fits in very well with being a Play your Part ambassador because it’s a way that myself and a couple of my partners have decided to pick up whatever pieces we can and figure out a way that we can play our part in helping alleviate those issues,” Maponyane explains.
HOW IT WORKS
Through the Bursary Network, students can appeal to the public for help. They upload their profiles to the website. Potential donors can then go through the list of students and choose to whom they want to donate.
“What we’ve created is an opportunity for students who can’t get access to education because of funding,” says Maponyane.
“It’s an opportunity for them to come on to the site, put up their profiles telling people who they are, where they’re from, what they want to study, where they want to go, how much money they need and what they’ll do with those studies afterwards.”
To date, the Bursary Network has funded 10 students with the help of some 358 donors who have all contributed R100 or more.
All the students registered on the site undergo background checks to ensure they are suitable beneficiaries and the money donated is paid directly to the institutions involved so the funds cannot be used for other purposes.
The network uses crowd-funding to raise the money needed for students to enrol at colleges and universities. People are encouraged to play their part and help South Africa’s youth fulfil their potential – in other words, contribute to the fund. (Brand South Africa’s Tshepiso Malele (left) and Keineloe Phakathi (right) alongside Play Your Part ambassador Masego Maponyane.)
GET INVOLVED
If you would like to help these promising students chase down their dreams, visit the Bursary Network website and register to donate.
The minimum donation is R100. You can track the progress in reaching the target and how your contributions are helping to change the lives of South African youth.
PLAY YOUR PART
Are you playing your part to help improve the lives of those around you through business? Do you know of any business person who has gone out of their way to help improve South Africa and its people?
If so, submit your story or video to our website and let us know what you are doing to improve the country for all.
