SCHOLARSHIP OPENS UP OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS IN KOUGA COMMUNITIES

SCHOLARSHIP OPENS UP OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS IN KOUGA COMMUNITIES

The Globeleq Scholarship Fund (GSF) 2022 academic year has opened and is available to students living within a 50km radius of Jeffreys Wind Farm, in the Kouga Municipal area, part of the Sarah Baartman District Municipality.  The GSF, funded by Jeffreys Bay Wind Farm, directly benefits students from the communities of Humansdorp, Hankey, Patensie, Thornhill and Jeffreys Bay.

As South Africa’s renewable energy industry’s flagship scholarship programme, it accounts for a sizeable percentage of the industry’s funded scholarships and reaches across five provinces contributing towards the country’s transformation agenda, by supporting 100% black youth and mostly women beneficiaries, setting an ambitious target for other sectors who are striving to support our country’s developmental agenda.

As part of Jeffreys Bay Wind Farms Socio-Economic Development Programme, the Globeleq Scholarship Fund (GSF) Scare Skills Programme aims to develop skills that will most benefit and help develop the beneficiary communities as listed.  Hence, the primary stipulation for applicants is that students must live within 50km of the wind farm.

“The GSF Scarce Skills programme is specifically offered to students in the Eastern and Northern Cape wishing to pursue degrees or certificates in education, agriculture, nursing (only Northern Cape) or tourism (only Eastern Cape). These areas need these types of skills to support regional economic development,” explained Hlengiwe Radebe, Economic Development Director for Globeleq South Africa and Jeffreys Bay Wind Farm.

“We are hoping that young people take up the opportunity to study further, which will ultimately impact their communities, as tertiary education can effectively increase the local skills pool,” added Radebe.

Additionally, the GSF offers an Engineering programme that is designed to support the renewable energy sector and ensure a pipeline of qualified talent.  It is offered nationally through institutions offering mechatronic or electrical engineering and is specifically aimed at students studying mechatronic or electrical engineering.

Bursary beneficiaries receive tuition fees, travel and accommodation costs, book allowances and even a stipend.

Having launched in 2016, the programme utilises a holistic approach to funding by typically not only focusing on academic achievement, but rather on financial need, location of the students and gender.

This programme also offers opportunities through an internship programme for beneficiaries to gain the necessary work experience.

To apply visit http://globeleq.auraams.app/