Our students are our pride
For the past 27 years, Atterbury Trust, with the help of independent external donors, has been providing interest-free bursary loans to new generations of future leaders and students in need from across South Africa. Our students are our pride, and since 1999, hundreds of Afrikaans students from all levels of society have been empowered and equipped to further their studies with the hope of harnessing the potential of the new generation and uplifting our local communities. Every year, hundreds of applications are received and each one is carefully reviewed personally by the Atterbury Trust team. However, even with the unwavering support of our shareholders, financial sponsors and our alumni network, the need is and will always be greater than the budget. We are sincerely grateful to everyone who supports us and enables us to make more bursaries possible year after year. We hereby invite you to join us in making a difference by strengthening the hands of the next generation.
What do we do for students?
The Atterbury Trust Interest-Free Bursary Loan Initiative offers a new generation of leaders the opportunity to gain qualifications without financial burden and then enter the workforce through our network of collaborators and supporters. This initiative promises to cover students’ total undergraduate and postgraduate study costs, including tuition fees, registration fees and book fees. On completion of their studies, students are responsible for repaying the interest-free bursary loan in full according to a payment plan as soon as they get a job. Such payment plan is tailored to each individual student’s loan and based on their starting salary. The repayment is directly reinvested into the initiative, which means that each student who repays a bursary loan also helps to change the life of a new student.
However, it is not just about financial assistance. Mentorship and a sense of community are important to Atterbury Trust, and therefore relationships are built with bursary students through regular mentoring sessions. Students are also encouraged to participate in our annual bursary functions in Pretoria, Stellenbosch, Bloemfontein and Potchefstroom. During students’ studies, numerous work opportunities are also made available through which students can become part of Atterbury Trust’s other initiatives in order to gain experience and generate an income for themselves while they study.
