Good start for UWC Alumni Phonathon

The University of the Western Cape (UWC) launched its inaugural UWC Alumni Phonathon initiative on 12 September 2016, and it has been a resounding success. During the first three hours of the phonathon programme, students called approximately 400 alumni and received 25 pledges to the value of R86 700. By the end of the first week, 2 438 alumni had been called and 127 pledges were received to the value of R399 500.

The five-week phonathon programme involves 50 students calling UWC alumni across South Africa with the aim to reconnect, update their contact details and raise funds to address student fees needs as part of the ‘Access to Success’ campaign.

The Access to Success campaign is a partnership between UWC and the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), launched on 25 August to ensure that academically performing UWC students are provided with opportunities and the necessary resources to complete their qualifications. Four SABC radio stations – SAFM, Good Hope FM, Umhlobo Wenene and Radio 2000 – are actively involved in highlighting the importance of a collective solution-finding effort through which the UWC community, alumni, corporate South Africa and friends of UWC collaborate towards finding sustainable funding solutions for students in need.

In support of the public appeal, an Alumni Phonathon, staff campaign and corporate appeal initiatives were set up to target the specific stakeholders to raise funds. The Phonathon is spearheaded by the Alumni Relations Office in the Department of Institutional Advancement, and involves a number of stakeholders from other departments throughout the University.

Samantha Castle, Alumni Relations Manager, said that many alumni were happy to connect and speak with the students, and were very willing to pledge their support towards the ‘Access to Success’ campaign.

With almost 70% of students who registered at UWC this year unable to pay the required registration fee and upfront payments, while the state funded subsidy has declined by 11% since 2000, the fundraising campaigns are even more critical. “Our students and our university need our help,” Castle said.

The 2016 calling schedule runs from 12 September to 13 October, and calls will be made Monday to Thursday from 17h00 to 20h00, and on Saturdays from 10h00 to 15h00.

Be sure to check this page for regular phonathon updates, or tweet us your feedback using our twitter handle, @uwconline, or the hashtag #uwcaccesstosuccess.

Please address any questions to the Alumni Office: alumni@uwc.ac.za