Image: Harriet Box/UWCIt isn’t only about preparing young students academically; it is about nurturing independence, adaptability, and confidence in navigating challenges in both work life and life in general.
This is true for the past cohorts of Mastercard Foundation Scholars enrolled at the University of the Western Cape (UWC). The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is a global initiative committed to supporting young Africans through education and leadership development, ensuring graduates are well-prepared for leadership and impact.
The partnership between UWC and the Mastercard Foundation creates pathways for students who might otherwise be excluded from tertiary education. To open up this unique opportunity and develop these skills, a new cohort of scholars has been selected and announced for the 2026 academic year.
The onboarding event for the new Mastercard Foundation Scholars held on Thursday, 29 and Friday, 30 January 2026, highlighted yet another milestone in the university’s ongoing partnership with the Mastercard Foundation.
The new cohort was introduced to the values and vision of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program and the university. Information sessions focused on UWC's history and culture, as well as the academic and wraparound support available to Mastercard Foundation Scholars.
In his welcome address, Prof Robert Balfour, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of UWC, noted that the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program matters at UWC because it helps reflect on the university’s own journey. UWC was established at a time when higher education in South Africa was marked by exclusion and inequality. From the start, the university had to decide what it stood for. Over the years, it became known for opening doors to more students and for taking its public responsibility seriously. Its growth was built on a steady commitment to fairness and to the belief that education should serve the wider community. The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program continues that story. It shows that expanding access isn’t enough on its own; students also need real support. That’s why the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program offers guidance through academic advising, research supervision, digital skills training, and structured opportunities for academic development.
Image: Harriet Box/UWCBasirat Agboola, Head, Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Partner Network, said, “We believe that everyone should have an equal chance to succeed, no matter their social or economic status. At the heart of the mission of the Foundation is the profound belief in the power of young people and catalytic influences through partnership.”
Addressing the Mastercard Foundation Scholars in particular, she said, “You are within transformative, ethical, and entrepreneurial partner organisations who will help to build a future of shared prosperity in Africa through education and skilling. Africa’s greatest challenges and opportunities will not be confined by borders or silos. Our future will be built on collaboration, on shared knowledge, and on building local and Pan-African networks of trust. Seeing this diverse cohort of young leaders is a living example of that future in the making.”
Caroline Ojwang, Director of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UWC, said at its heart, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is more than just about academic excellence. It’s about inclusion, belonging and service.
“It’s about pathways to dignified and fulfilling work, and ensuring that every Mastercard Foundation Scholar not only succeeds at UWC but is supported in making a long-lasting impact that extends beyond their own lives, into their communities, and across the world as a whole,” said Ojwang.
Founded in 2012, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is designed to support academically talented, service-oriented young people who face significant economic and social barriers to higher education. The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program places particular emphasis on reaching young people whose access to opportunity is limited by economic and social barriers, including young women, refugees, forcibly displaced persons, and students living with disabilities. UWC partnered with the Mastercard Foundation as an implementing partner to advance its shared mission of inclusive education and social justice.
This year, the program continues to make a transformative impact. The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UWC Class of 2026 includes Mastercard Foundation Scholars from across South Africa and other parts of Africa – each selected for their academic excellence, leadership potential, and commitment to community upliftment. Scholars will receive comprehensive support covering tuition, accommodation, books, and living expenses, along with access to mentorship, leadership training, and career development opportunities.
For Gibson Maganzu from Zimbabwe, the journey into the program felt like stepping into a relay race. A first-year Mastercard Foundation Scholar studying a Bachelor of Commerce in Information Systems at UWC, he described the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program as more than financial support; it was a baton passed down by pioneers who believed in transformation. “Much is given, much is required,” he reflected, seeing himself as an ambassador for a mission bigger than himself.
Maganzu’s story is rooted in service. From clean-up campaigns with Clubhouse International to leading a youth fellowship and supporting his church’s outreach in Dangamvura, he has always sought to uplift young people. Now, he looks forward to leadership training, mentorship, and building a community of peers equally passionate about change. His dream is to become an entrepreneur, designing sustainable, data-driven solutions that improve lives across Africa.
Keira Cupido, a first-year Mastercard Foundation Scholar studying a Bachelor of Education in Foundation Phase Teaching at UWC, believes that teaching is more than a career path; it is a calling. Cupido lives in Grassy Park, Cape Town, and carries with her Nathaniel Branden’s words: “We must become what we wish to teach.” With a love for children and a desire to spread positivity, she sees her acceptance into the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program as a blessing beyond measure.
Cupido’s passion has always been to support young learners, helping them grow and thrive. The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, she said, opens doors not only for her academic journey but for her personal growth, shaping her into the kind of teacher who embodies the values she wishes to instil. She looks forward to discovering her full capabilities, embracing challenges, and sharing the journey with her family and peers.
Over the past three years, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UWC has achieved notable success. Scholars have participated in community engagement projects, leadership workshops, and academic enrichment activities that not only enhance their university experience but also prepare them to become agents of change in their communities.
The program’s emphasis on ethical leadership and social responsibility has enabled graduates to enter fields ranging from public health and education to entrepreneurship and policy advocacy.
