Like gold, the Abagold Development Trust, has proved to be an extremely valuable asset to the greater Hermanus community, especially during these times of financial hardship and uncertainty. Launched in 2010, the Trust’s overriding principle is to intervene in a way that will contribute to the upliftment of the Abagold employees’ previously disadvantaged communities: Hawston, Mount Pleasant and Zwelihle.

One of their many interventions is in education. According to Elaine Davie, the Abagold Development Trust liaison officer, the Trust recognises the important role a solid foundation in early child development and the foundation phase plays in a child’s schooling. It is this quality foundation education that will help children to thrive. If children thrive, they are more likely to make a success of their lives and bring hope to their communities.

Since its inception, the Trust has focused on trying to upgrade ECD centres in the local communities. It works closely with the Enlighten Trust which facilitates the process of registering these centres so that they will qualify for a subsidy.

Guided by Enlighten, which has identified worthy centres struggling to register because they do not meet certain building regulations, the Abagold Development Trust then funds the upgrading and refurbishing of these centres.

Once the centre has been upgraded, it is an Abagold requirement that the teachers must be trained.

Although it is generally acknowledged that the foundation phase is a vital part of a child’s schooling, few of the teachers in primary schools appear to have specific foundation phase training. To address this problem, the Trust decided at the end of last year to award bursaries to four students who, assisted by OLH, are studying to become foundation phase teachers.The four fortunate students to receive these bursaries were: Marcharlaine Williams, Niveena Jantjies, Matshidiso Thukutha and Rawaida Michaels.

So how did they come to be one of the lucky few? Dr Nici Rousseau and Willem Lotter compiled a list of suitable candidates who had achieved academically in the past year, showed promise, courage and commitment, and had passed the necessary means test. Elaine then presented the list to the Abagold Board of Trustees, who made the final choice of which students to support.

The recipients acknowledge that the bursary has made a huge difference in their lives. Firstly, it is a great relief not to have the burden of having to scrimp and save in already challenging circumstances. Matshidiso said the bursary has alleviated a lot of her financial stress in that, as a single mother, she is now more able to adequately provide for the basic needs of her son and she “managed to buy much needed study materials” with the money that would have gone to paying her tuition fees. Rawaida said that “Ek is ’n enkel moeder en finansieel is ek nie sterk nie. Nou hoef ek nie planne te beraam om lenings te maak vir my studies nie”.

Secondly, with the financial weight off their shoulders, the students feel they have been freed up to devote more energy to their studies. Niveena said that receiving the bursary has made her “more motivated and determined to achieve the best results”. These sentiments were echoed by Marcharlaine, who said “the bursary encouraged me to rethink and evaluate my academic goals so that I am motivated to keep on with my studies even if it is difficult”. Rawaida said that “Die beurs laat my meer insit sodat ek seker maak dat ek volgende jaar weer een kan ontvang”. Although these students will have to reapply for a bursary for the following year, Elaine is confident that if they continue to stay on course and achieve, they will qualify for a bursary for 2024.

Helping students to achieve their dreams and to be gainfully employed one day is a very fulfilling journey for the Abagold Development Trust. However, money is in short supply and a limited amount of funds is made available to the Trust by the company. It is, therefore, important to know that the money is in safe hands and has been well spent. Elaine feels that by financially assisting these more mature students at OLH, where they are given academic, psychological and professional support, there is a greater chance of their success and a golden opportunity for their positive influence to have a ripple effect throughout the community at large.