YWOW: Young Women of Worth Education, South Africa

 ‘The highest return of investment in the developing world is into girls education’ .... Lawrence Summers, ex World Bank / Chief Economist (2010)

The YWOW (Young Women of Worth) Measurables:

We are delighted to report to our donors progress to date since becoming part of the GlobalGiving Forum. Through our Scholarships, Bursaries, and Financial Assistance program, in support of Young Women of Worth, our school Epworth aided  144 pupils in the academic year of 2021. We are grateful to our alumni and Friends of the Foundation (non-alumni individuals, corporates and parastatals) who, in collaboration with Epworth School, assisted 19 additional students. Our gratitude to YOU, our donors is immense!!

An Immeasurable:

One of our young bursary recipients ~ Thando J ~ began Grade 10 at Epworth at the beginning of 2020 on the strength of bursary assistance. Unfortunately she had only just arrived to the Epworth BE (boarding establishment) when COVID forced her back to her south coast home 2 months later, and into an online learning environment provided by the school within 3 short weeks of national shutdown (being the Easter holidays).

Undeterred, Thando has coped admirably with COVID and language and cultural challenges since her arrival at Epworth, and today – half way through her matric (Gr 12) year, she is now a young pupil of promise, receiving this report comment from her grade teacher Ms Juliet I. "Thando J  is a confident , sensible pupil who takes her work seriously and gives each task her undivided attention. She is goal driven and motivated in both her academics and responsibilities as a senior at Epworth. I am delighted to have been a part of her journey this year as she matriculates this year’

We AGAIN thank each of YOU,our donors for the immeasurable part you have played in positvely impacting upon yet another Young Woman of Worth’s life!

The Power of Compassion: 

Another of our many remarkable past students, Bridget N, gifted by this bursary scheme and who matriculated over 10 years ago, today finds herself as the Finance industry manager & Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Coach of one of SA’s top IT companies. She recently wrote a powerful tribute of gratitude for a recent school publication, reminding us of the great need for compassion in education and how often it’s the small things that make a BIG difference:

‘Our main focus was trying to foster a spirit of compassion and selflessness within the heart of the Epworth girls, for it is through awakening these qualities that the compassion of the school proves its power. As an Interact Club under the wing of Rotary we undertook the motto: Service Above Self! I recall how on Valentine’s Day, the Interact Club visited RS/local Old Age Home. The girls embraced the experience wholeheartedly, giving out roses and singing to the residents. This experience touched both residents and the girls in an unforgettable way.

Having felt the beauty of brightening the lives of others, we decided to encourage the school as a whole to adopt this attitude of compassion. We started a yoghurt tub collection for the local St D soup kitchen. The school responded with enthusiasm collecting a whopping two hundred yoghurt tubs by the end of the term. Due to the success of this collection, this is now an ongoing drive at Epworth High School.

The annual easter egg collection proved to be a great success with mountains of Easter eggs being given by the Epworth Community. In total, four thousand Easter eggs were donated to the children of N School and E Hospital. Since we believe that home is where the heart is, we also gave our estate staff an Easter surprise.

Towards the end of the first term, we held an all-night Interact Danceathon and put Epworth’s endurance to the test—but by the early hours of the morning it was just a fight to stay awake, with all dancing abandoned. Through this we raised R2500, which would be later used to refurbish the N School reading room.

In this same spirit of compassion, the next term was devoted to the Winter Drive that year.  Once again, the school rose to the occasion, collecting a busload of food and clothes.  The children of N School felt a touch of warmth that winter. 

Another term was dedicated to renewing N School’s reading room by redecorating, buying books and magazines, and creating a comfortable environment for the children to read in.

May compassion through structured clubs such as the Interact club continues to grow in strength!’

Faith, Compassion, Courage

Where so many South African students are not as fortunate, the firm foundation and financial management of Epworth for nearly 125 years have protected and promoted strong values of Faith, Compassion and Courage in its pupils during times of crisis and change. Our donors are an immeasurable part of this magnificent legacy. Thank you for the part each of you play in this impact as we move towards our 125th year next year in 2023.

‘Alone we can do so little. Together we can do so much’ ~ Helen Keller.

Links:

• More about the Epworth Foundation

A quality, real-world education is in short supply for girls around the world. Studies have shown that providing these opportunities to young girls is one of the most effective ways to effect positive and lasting change in our communities.

Programs such as our Young Women of Worth bursary initiative quite literally changes lives and delivers opportunities to young women who normally wouldn’t be privileged enough to access them. Your investment in their education delivers huge returns each year.

Not only does your investment deliver a top-notch education, but it inspires a thirst for knowledge and nurtures the courageous and independent spirit that results in young women exploring the world and seeking greater understanding through shared experiences.

One such Young Woman of Worth is Faye, the 2017 Head Girl, captain of the 2^nd hockey team and Dux (top academic student) of the school, who achieved six distinctions and an overall aggregate of 88.4% in her final exams. A bursary funded Faye’s high school education.

In 2013, Faye was an eager 13-year-old “at the start of my high school journey; I was not yet aware of the impact the Epworth School would have on my life.” Today, she is a financial planner and experienced traveler, with a thirst for knowledge and a passion for extending the opportunities she’s enjoyed to other Young Women of Worth.

Here she shares with us how being recognized as a young woman of worth and having people invest in her education helped mold her into a strong, confident, and successful woman.

Q: Why is it important that people invest in the Young Women of Worth initiative?

Providing young women with this opportunity is a fantastic initiative, as it plays an invaluable role in allowing them to develop and strive to meet goals while becoming upstanding members of society. 

As a young woman learning to navigate the world and find my own identity, the bursary to Epworth School provided me with the opportunity to gain experience and grow in a dynamic and nurturing environment. The diverse opportunities from academics to culture, sport, social aspects provided an endless chance to thrive and develop so many crucial skills in life. The school is a safe space to challenge yourself while having top notch facilities and support from a brilliant team of staff. There are endless possibilities provided to find your passions and potentials, with a niche available for everybody.

Q: Tell us a bit more about your time as a bursary student.

I started Grade 8 as a day scholar. Along with my fellow newbies, I began to learn where my strengths and passions lay and what I enjoyed most. I loved to push myself both academically and on the sports field. The sports field was a wonderful place to make good friends and develop healthy competition! It's an important in character-building to learn to both win and to lose.

Through the various grades, I served on the Learner Representative Counsel, which provided an opportunity to represent my fellow students. When I reached matric, I lead the school as Head Girl. With the support and guidance of my family, teachers, fellow students, and friends, I was also able to set academic goals and was awarded the Dux of School, Academic Honors and three subject prizes at the end of the year.

I received an award for fellowship, an award for leadership and the award for the pupil who best lived up to the school motto.

Q: Where has your journey taken you since finishing high school?

After I matriculated from Epworth, I decided to gain local work experience before broadening my horizons through international work experience and overseas travel.

During my time in the USA, I traveled to 17 different states and my eyes were opened to a range of new cultures. I also got a taste of the American college lifestyle while attending short courses and I made friends from all over the world who were following a similar journey to the one I was on.

Q: You have now settled into a career in financial planning and helping people with stewardship, what do you find the most fulfilling about it?

I love what I do and see the value that it adds to the lives of others every day. The industry is also one where we constantly learning new things, which is something I enjoy. It will be my two-year work anniversary, but I feel I have only scratched the surface of what the industry is about.