AIBPROF in the News
From the Impumelelo Web Site:
Athlone Institute Trusts
The Athlone Institute Trusts was initially established in
1926, to run a number of primary schools in the area. Over time, and in
response to challenges from the different governments since then, the
project has had to adapt to meet the new needs of the community.
The
Athlone Institute was broken down into the Athlone Institute Trust, the
Athlone Fund Trust, and the Athlone Charitable Trust. The different
trusts are now intended to provide funding for community-initiatives
that focus on poverty alleviation. To date, four projects have been
established, as well as a number of ongoing assistance to churches, NPOs
and for emergency/disaster funds. The four projects are the Athlone
Institute Bursary Fund (AIBPROF);
the Athlone House of Strength (AHOS); @COMPLAB (a computer help
centre); and Athlone Institute Trust and Allandale Correctional Project
(AITACOP). One new project is chosen each year; and each is funded for
five years on a diminishing capitalization method. There are also
attempts to engage with government departments in order to make the
projects more sustainable.
FROM: The PAARL POST
FOR the past twelve years the Athlone Institute Trust (AIT), through the Athlone Institute Bursary Project Fund (AIBPROF), have been awarding bursaries and bursary loans to students who are permanent residents of Paarl and Mbekweni. Applications for 2012 are now open and accepted until 25 February.
The Trust, in existence since 1926, was founded collectively by five local churches to empower the local community.
This year, the bursary fund paid out bursaries and bursary loans at various tertiary institutions in South Africa to 70 students, totalling R410 000.
AIBROF also administers bursaries of Miss Erna Witbooi and the Wheatfield Estate Foundation Trust (WEFT) for two postgraduate students.
An applicant who qualifies for either a bursary or bursary loan must be a permanent resident of Paarl or Mbekweni; be a parish member in good standing of one of the member churches of the AIT or a member in good standing of any bona-fide denomination/religious institution in Paarl/Mbekweni.
The applicants must be enrolled for full-time undergraduate or postgraduate studies for 2012 at an acknowledged tertiary institution and must have passed the last year of study, produce certified documents and registration papers. Thus students have to pay their registration fees at the beginning of the academic year, out of their own resources, be willing to be involved in some form of community service in the Paarl/Mbekweni area and participate in the mentoring programme.
First year students who matriculated at Klein Nederburg Secondary in Paarl, and who register for a qualification in AgriSciences at Stellenbosch University may also apply for the Erna Witbooi Bursary which must be utilised to pay all expenses for handbooks for the first year of study.
Bursary Awards are made by the AIBROF Committee who selects recipients based on merit and financial need. Awards are variable and cover a percentage of the cost of tuition, registration and books. Bursary funds are paid directly to tertiary institutions.
A maximum of 20 bursary loans will be made available to first year students with strong motivation for financial need, who have obtained a minimum of “acceptance to do a diploma course” in the final matriculation examination.
Students in their second and subsequent years of study at tertiary institutions will be considered for bursaries based on academic merit and/or financial need of the applicant.
Application forms are available from Friday 2 December at the offices of the member churches (Bethel United Congregational Church, Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Immanuel UR Church, St Stephen’s Anglican Church, Zions UR Church and from Drakenstein Pharmacy. For enquiries, contact 021 862 7777 (w) or draken@worldonline.co.za.