Launched to help address the ongoing tertiary registration fee crisis being seen among students earlier this year, #R10GoesALongWay was created as a heartfelt response by social media celebrity Lasizwe Dambuza, and friends Nkateko “Takkies” Nkateko, Sibu Mabena and Ayanda Mhlongo. After raising R38 000 between the four of them, they went on to ask their families, friends and followers to help – by contributing just R10.
With the original campaign subsequently raising over R2.3m and paying the tertiary registration fees of 106 students who would otherwise have remained “outside the system”, the collective team at Fundi (which is managing the fund) are busy with a bumper application window, which closes this Saturday.
Open to students who have applied for an undergraduate qualification at a tertiary institution, and who have been accepted to study there, the application process is the critical next step in beneficiary student selection. “This is where we start unlocking the real magic of the campaign – and matching students with the funding,” says Mala Suriah, the Chief Marketing Officer of Fundi.
She notes that students should check their eligibility before submitting their applications however: “#R10GoesALongWay was created specifically to assist students trapped in the ‘missing middle’, notably anyone working to fund their own studies as they don’t qualify for NSFAS assistance and haven’t managed to secure a bursary from a public or private institution. If that’s you – and you’ve been accepted to study at a tertiary institution next year – we’re waiting to hear from you!”
Since launching for the 2022 academic year a few weeks ago, the #R10GoesALongWay is continuing to build momentum, and corporates and individuals are digging deep to support this potentially life-changing cause. “We want to better our R2.3m achievement of 2021 and help many more students to take that critical next step towards their futures,” says Suriah. “Every student we help is another student who is now included in the system.”
#R10GoesALongWay ambassadors and partners are encouraging corporates and individuals to keep on giving. “What better gift to give someone than that of a ‘hand-up’ towards their future?” says Suriah. “This campaign gives each of us the power to change 2022 for someone else. Please use that R10 in your wallet, in your pocket or on your phone to do good and make a difference. The reward will be far greater than you can imagine.”
For more information, students and donors should visit the dedicated microsite: https://fundifoundation.org/R10GoesALongWay