Nanda Ntloko. Image: SuppliedA new group of Mastercard Foundation Scholars were recently welcomed to the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UWC. The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is a global initiative designed to develop the next generation of transformative leaders by enabling highly talented, service-oriented young people, primarily young Africans, to pursue their higher education and cultivate their leadership potential.
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program not only provides holistic support but also fosters an environment where the Mastercard Foundation Scholars are encouraged to think critically and contribute meaningfully to the society.
The newest cohort of Mastercard Foundation Scholars, the Class of 2025, includes 91 students: 60 undergraduates and 31 master’s students.
Welcoming the Mastercard Foundation Scholars, Advisor to the Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Shaun Pather noted that the University of the Western Cape had a history of transformation that was built on equity and justice.
“This Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program reflects the mission of the University of the Western Cape. A mission not just to improve and extend access to higher education, but to ensure through the access that we train the future leaders of tomorrow,” said Prof Pather.
He said the recipients of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program had gone through an arduous process and stringent criteria, and also thanked the Mastercard Foundation for its significant investment and the transformative impact envisaged in the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.
Addressing the Mastercard Foundation Scholars, Pather said the Mastercard Foundation seeks to empower 30 million people across the African continent by the end of this decade.
“So together with the Mastercard Foundation we are committed, and I want to reiterate that commitment to contributing to the vision of the Mastercard Foundation to support the academic success, your academic success, including, not just completing, but your holistic development,” said Prof Pather.
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Director, Ms. Carol Ojwang said that after an arduous selection process, it was great to finally put faces to the names of the new Mastercard Foundation Scholars.
“As Mastercard Foundation Scholars at UWC, similar to other Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program implementing partners, you were not only selected for your academic excellence, but also for the achievements that you've demonstrated within your applications, your commitments that you narrated to make positive social change and impact in your communities in Africa at large.”
“So, you are a UWC student, but as has also been mentioned, you're part of a family of over 200 other Mastercard Foundation Scholars, registered at the university whom you will meet in a few weeks’ time,” said Ojwang.
She called on the Mastercard Foundation Scholars to practice transformative leadership, inspire their fellow students, seek out the university’s support services and attend programs and workshops being offered.
Ms. Basirat Agboola, Acting Head, Partner Networks at the Mastercard Foundation, emphasised the commitment of the Mastercard Foundation to producing the future leaders of the African continent, underpinned by the belief that everyone should have the opportunity to learn, thrive and prosper.
Nanda Ntloko, 24, a Mastercard Foundation Scholar at UWC pursuing a Master’s in Linguistics, said she applied for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program in March and got her acceptance letter in June.
“I’m very happy, I’m very excited. I’m fully supported by the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program. I went from nothing to everything,” said an overjoyed Ntloko.
The Mastercard Foundation works with visionary organizations to enable young people in Africa and in Indigenous communities in Canada to access dignified and fulfilling work. It is one of the largest private foundations in the world with a mission to advance learning and promote financial inclusion to create an inclusive and equitable world.
