The PPS Foundation, a Public Benefit Organisation (PBO) that was launched in 2017, has made the idea of “paying it forward” easier for members of the public who would like to contribute to the development of students and graduates in South Africa by establishing a user-friendly and secure online donation platform that is accessible from the PPS website. This platform allows PPS members, staff and the public to offer and provide financial assistance while being able to take advantage of tax benefits through the receipt of a Section18A certificate.
According to the 2017 “Higher Education and Skills in South Africa” report released by Statistics South Africa, 1.4 million individuals aged between 18 and 24 reported that they did not attend any educational institutions because they had no money for fees.
PPS Foundation aims to improve access to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields and contribute measurably to the sustainable development of South African communities through their ethos of mutuality and shared success. The Foundation also assists students and new graduates to access quality tertiary education, helping to enhance their job-readiness and offer skills development opportunities.
Since its inception, the Foundation has valued the partnership created with likeminded individuals and organisations to further the “nurturing potential” narrative.
“Over the years, there have been several notable partnerships and successes that have contributed immensely to the work we do, which aims to empower students and improve the teaching & learning experience for all,” says Masenyane Molefe, Group HR Executive at PPS.
There is an understanding that through the tertiary academic journey, students and educators are exposed to various impediments. Therefore, in a bid to address the challenges that impact teaching and learning experiences, the Foundation has gone beyond building or refurbishing facilities on campus. Last year, a partnership with Rise Against Hunger Africa was birthed and through the Employee Volunteerism Programme, PPS staff members helped pack food items that were distributed to alleviate student hunger at various academic institutions such as; Stellenbosch University, Tshwane University of Technology, University of Venda, University of Limpopo and the University of Fort Hare.
Molefe shares that, “as an organisation that values the power of creating an ecosystem where other professionals can give of their time and resources to the various programmes we run, we would like to encourage more people to join our circle and contribute to our mandate and vision to educate future graduate professionals.”
