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Directors Update 2021


 
The past 2 years shook the world with the impact of Covid-19 rattling all to their core, dividing nations, neighbourhoods, workplaces, governments, families and friends. Like many around the globe, we at Isipho Admin know that life will return to a semblance of normality (or a new normal) and with this is mind, we kept our heads down and remained focussed on our precious students as their futures depended on this.
 
Regrettably, but not surprisingly our 2020 students were severely tested.
Weleminah faced down the challenges of online learning (with little to no access to internet) and after writing one supplementary exam, successfully completed the Higher Certificate in Office Administration. We are extremely proud of this young lady.
  
Sadly, Sphiwe and Charlene did not qualify but we do believe that the experience of studying, and the knowledge obtained is never lost and we wish them bright and beautiful futures
 
At the beginning of 2021 we approached the allocation of bursaries a little differently in some instances. The continued uncertainty brought about by Covid-19 and the very real possibility of lockdown necessitated a fresh approach. In addition to our regular assessment process, we appealed to Rosebank College (our preferred supplier) to put forward BBA students who had achieved good results in the first 2 years of their degrees but were struggling financially. The thought process behind this was to find students who had already mastered the online learning angle but needed help to complete their studies
 
Given Maleka, Grace Chikaonda and Nokuthula (Thully) Sophangisa were awarded bursaries for the Higher Certificate in Office Administration and without exception, produced phenomenal results. Given and Grace achieved 7 distinctions each (from 8 subjects), and Thully passed all subjects with distinctions. We found shining stars in all 3 of these ladies.                      
 
In addition, Tidimalo completed her BBA degree (year 2 in 2020 and year 3 in 2021) producing outstanding results and demonstrating that her self-belief and our faith in her were not misplaced with 7 distinctions over the two years - a true champion!!
  
Thash Pillay was put forward by the college in response to our appeal, having completed 2 years of her BBA but amassing a substantial student loan in the process. To say that she completed her degree with flying colours is an understatement. Over 3 years and 27 subjects, Thash achieved a full house with 27 distinctions … simply astounding!!
 
​We cannot celebrate any successes without acknowledging how extremely blessed we are for each and every donation from our global Isipho Angels and the incredible dedication and commitment of our mentors (affectionately referred to as “The A-Team”).
 
The 2022 intake process has commenced ………

Directors Update 2020

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While 2019 seems to be a distant memory, we have so much to celebrate and be thankful for:

Charlotte completed her final year of a BA (Bachelor in Business Administration) Degree and secured full time employment at IIE MSA (a tertiary education institution) as a Customer Relations Officer. The determination she showed in her bursary application interview has and will continue to stand her in good stead going forward and it is a privilege to have Charlotte in the Isipho family.

We extend our deepest appreciation to her sponsors / Isipho Angels, Craig Bouchard (Chairman and CEO) and Julie Kavanaugh (Chief of Staff Administration) – Braidy Industries, Katherine Sanchez and Alex & Veronica Cochran.

Tidimalo qualified with a Higher Certificate in Office Administration (our sincere gratitude to Secretary.It for being Tidi’s 2019 Isipho Angel) She has elected to continue her studies as she strives to follow in Charlotte’s footsteps and complete a Bachelor’s in Business Administration.

This is going to be a long road … Tidi will need to study part time so that she can work simultaneously to support her family. The directors and mentors are confident that Tidi will succeed based on the exemplary work ethic and total dedication demonstrated to her studies during 2019.

Kgosithabile (Kgosi) Komsana, the first male recipient of an Isipho bursary, sadly missed out on one subject to obtain his qualification but thankfully, managed to secure employment as an Office Manager / HR Assistant while he continues to study. We continue to monitor Kgosi’s progress with great interest. The financial support from the Shaw-Brown Scholarship for Aspiring Admins was undoubtedly the catalyst that Kgosi needed to place him on the road to success and we are profoundly grateful that they joined our band of Isipho Angels.

We also celebrate the tenacity of one of our 2018 bursary recipients, Fatima Utsulo. Fatima displayed dedication and commitment to her studies but unfortunately came up short at the end of 2018. However, she was determined to qualify, pushed through the final hurdle during 2019 and is now an immensely proud graduate with a Higher Certificate in Office Administration. Thank you Fatima, for reinforcing the lesson that it is okay to fail provided you do not give up!!

No sooner had 2020 started with our new bursary students fresh faced and eager, when the world ground to a halt as a result of COVID-19. Like everyone around the world, we urged our students to stay safe. Each of them was issued with a new laptop for the duration of their studies so thankfully, continue with online work provided by the college.

We have really had to stretch our budget during this difficult time to provide them with additional data, PPE as well as a little grocery money, but as we are committed to the success and safety of all our charges, we felt the additional expense was not negotiable.

We look forward to the day when we can meet with them face to face again, give them hugs and show them in person how much we are routing for them. Weleminah Tshabalala, Sphiwe Mtsheweni and Charlene Hector welcome to the Isipho family and Tidimalo Mokgatle, welcome back 😊

The Isipho Bursary is now well into its 5th year and with hearts full of gratitude, we thank everyone for their support. Ispiho’s intention is clear, our commitment unwavering and our success is yours … the donations we get from the global community, PAs and businesses, sustains this initiative and supports our goal of making a difference, one life at a time.
​
Warm regards
Directors : Isipho Admin Bursary
 

Directors Update 2019

The 2018 academic year is behind us and we are delighted to add two more graduates to our list. Bongiwe and Valencia graduated with 6 and 3 distinctions respectively with exceptional performances on all other subjects, a stellar performance indeed. These ladies displayed 100% commitment and dedication to their studies and obtained the results to show for it.

Our deepest gratitude to the Isipho Angels, we could not have done this without your generous support. 

We are very happy to report that Bongiwe has recently been successfully placed in formal employment which, in the current youth unemployment climate in South Africa which is at a staggering 55.2%, is worthy of great cheer.

Our efforts are ongoing to find employment for Valencia and of course, to find an administrative position for Iris (2016 graduate) who, whilst working, is not appropriately employed in the admin space. Once again, we appeal to anyone you know who is currently recruiting junior admin staff or have intern opportunities available in Pretoria/Midrand/JHB area to please get in touch.
 
A little update on Ambrotia, as a result of the chronic unemployment, Ambrotia managed to find a 3-month temporary assignment only and has decided to study further on her own. She is enrolled in a Dental Assistant Diploma and we wish her every success. We will continue to look for a position for her in the administration field as we strongly believe she would be an asset to the profession.
 
Our 2019 students have hit the ground running and we are expecting great things from Kgosithabile (Kgosi), Gloria Tidimalo and Raisibe Charlotte. We are celebrating a few milestones this year with Kgosi being our first male student ever, the addition of Shirwyn Weber, (a very accomplished male PA in South Africa) to our mentor team and Charlotte, completing her 3rd and final year of a BA (Bachelor in Business Administration) Degree as opposed to the Higher Certificate in Office Administration.

It has always been our methodology to commit all donations to providing directly for our students and this year is no different. We have had the most unbelievable support once again from Admin Assistants and businesses around the world and we remain humbled by the outpouring of love and support for the Isipho Admin bursary. There is immeasurable joy in our hearts that our band of Isipho Angels is growing. Together, we are making a difference, one life at a time.
 
If you would like more information about our project, contact Teri Wells via email at Teriwells@gmail.com or Anel Martin anel@isiphoadmin.org.za
 
If you feel that you would like to contribute financially to this cause you can visit our Home Page for our banking and PayPal information.

Thank you for your ongoing support in this effort to change lives!
It is with a great sense of pride that we have managed to produce 3 formally qualified candidates to date with an additional 3 enrolled for the 2018 academic year (all looking very much on track to succeed). From left to right (Ambrotia, Lerato and Iris)

Lerato and Iris were two of the first bursary recipients and they have really set the bar for all who follow. Both are now working in the corporate sector, earning fixed salaries and becoming independent, contributing members of society. They are able to provide not only for themselves but also to help members of their families with essentials like food, shelter, clothing etc. In addition they have both committed to working with the youth at the community centres in their respective informal settlements, encouraging them to go to school, helping with homework, computer literacy studies, knowledge and life skills sharing etc. They have effectively become role models for the youth. You see, whilst we strive to make a difference one life at a time, the knock-on effect is astounding.

Ambrotia is our newest graduate, she stepped up to the plate and literally hit a home run in year two earning 6 distinctions. We really are immensely proud of what she has achieved.

Both Ambrotia and Iris need your help to get appropriately placed. Although employed, Iris is not currently working as an assistant but really would like to put those skills to good use and is very passionate about the profession. 

So if you or anyone you know is currently recruiting junior admin staff or have intern opportunities available in Pretoria/Midrand/JHB area please get in touch. 

Our 2018 students are settling in well and although they are navigating the challenges of formal tertiary education and some subjects that are totally foreign to them (Office Finance), they are already impressing with their academic results. We know it will require hard work and unwavering commitment but we believe they have what it takes and look forward to celebrating more success stories at the end of the year.
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All of our students (past, present and no doubt, future) achieve against the most incredible odds … living in informal settlements, no electricity, no running water and very often, no food and a minimal family support structure. To see what they achieve is truly humbling and we salute each and every one of them.
 
We have a fantastic, committed team of mentors Susan, Cathy and Li-Ann without whom this project is impossible.

Our special thanks as always, to our donors and sponsors, the "Isipho Angels". With a very special mention to our friend Heather Baker who supports us every single month. Please check out our donor page
 
We are 100% reliant on donations and 100% of the funds raised go to the students. First and foremost we pay for the formal education including textbooks. The number of bursary recipients each year is limited by the bank balance. If there are additional funds available we try to assist with other essentials like transport, mobile phone airtime, food etc.

If you, your company or your EA forum would be interested in sponsoring/adopting a student for the 2019 intake and become their official funding and support partner please get in touch with either Teri Wells (SA Director) or Anel Martin (DXB based Director) 
 
We are starting serious fundraising efforts for 2019 soon and would appreciate your assistance in this regard. To find out more please check out our  YouTube Video and celebrate Our journey so far in video 
 
Contributions can be made via our SA bank account or PayPal paypal.me/IsiphoAdmin

Greetings from the Directors Isipho Admin Bursary

Year one and beyond!

​As our first birthday has just passed we would like to share our journey thus far with our supporters and friends. We started out as a group of very committed and passionate assistants who wanted to make a difference, no matter how small. We felt that there was so much complaining and negativity about the state of the world, the economy, poverty and unemployment (5 million young people unemployed in South Africa alone), but no concrete action beyond that.

South Africa was also plagued with violent student protests about the cost and access to education.
It is natural to think “but I am only one person, how can I change anything?” We feel like we cannot influence the world in a meaningful way as an individual or even a small group. We however, decided to change our paradigm on what and where we focus our energy.

The questions we had to ask ourselves included, what can we do? Where do we start? What do we care about? What do we want our legacy to be? And that friends, is how the journey began!

So a team of beautiful souls set off to make a difference. We were naïve at times, not everything went according to our plans, we faced challenges, red tape and disappointments but if you ask any of us if it is worth it, then you will get a resounding YES!

Two of our students from the 2016 intake have done incredibly well and their success has motivated us to keep focused on changing one life at a time.

Iris Mothwa has made us very proud. She started off as a quiet, slightly withdrawn young lady. We had concerns about her, wondering if she would be able to interact with people as assistants do daily, however we found her situation so compelling that we could not turn her away. You see, Iris is the head of a child household, she is the provider for her 4 siblings and we knew that if we gave her this opportunity it would change her life and employment prospects forever.

Iris has not disappointed, in fact Iris has blossomed. She has worked exceptionally hard and achieved amazing academic results. She has grown in confidence and has said to us that she wants to inspire her siblings to make something of their lives. She has stolen our hearts and she has become a daughter to all of us.

We are currently giving her more work exposure in the hope that she will be successfully placed very soon. We do not doubt she would be a wonderful, responsible and mature (way beyond her years) addition to any company and hopefully we will be able to share that good news in the very near future!

Our second incredible student is Lerato Sikhosana, a petite but feisty young lady. We will never forget the first day we met her. Those big glasses and even bigger smile. When we met she was doing people’s hair on the weekends to make ends meet and volunteering during the week at Orange Farm which is a township near Johannesburg. During the interview, we asked many questions and saw her face light up several times, but the excitement in her eyes when she talked about her ladies soccer team (of which she is the captain) was absolutely electric.

Well, they always say that sports help you develop discipline and in this case it rang true. Lerato kept her eyes on the goal (pun intended) and has blown us away. She not only completed her studies successfully but during her work experience week she made such an impression that she is now a full time employee with this company. Like proud mamas (Moms) we must brag a little…she only OFFICIALLY graduates in May 2017, she will need to take leave to attend her graduation ceremony.

Having an income means that Lerato has now moved into her own place. She proudly shared pictures of her new abode and we all agreed that a house warming party was in order. It is amazing how a life can change in a few months. This little bird has taken flight and we are so privileged that we could play our part.

Was it all smooth sailing? Nope! We had two students who did not successfully complete the year. The circumstances are irrelevant here but the situation was utterly devastating to the team. It made us question if we did enough, if we are skilled and experienced enough to handle a passion project that is this complex, with individuals facing such tremendous odds. Many tears were shed, lots of hard discussions had, but we grew, it made us stronger and most importantly we learnt some hard but important lessons.

So, year two! Well we had to sort through 328 submissions but sadly only found two candidates that qualified in line with our criteria, but as a team, at the outset, we made a conscious decision to focus on quality over quantity as we view this project as a long-term commitment. Our newest recruits had their orientation day on the 7 February 2017 and will start their exciting academic year on the 13th of Feb. We look forward to seeing Rosina Molamodi, Andile Mthimunye and Ambrotia Molelewa achieve and grow this year and beyond.

We have been so overwhelmed by the generosity of the PA community globally, the trainers and the companies as well as individuals that came on board during 2016 and continue their support in 2017. We are blessed beyond measure that we are surrounded by those that have become fondly known as Isipho Angels! Many times, in 2016 we felt that the mere words “Thank you” were just not enough. When we were in need, someone always came forward to support us and for that we are so grateful. The overwhelming feeling we are left with, is that people are actually good, they really do care and if you ask for help, people will support you. What an amazing take-away for us.

If you would like more information about our project contact Teri Wells via email at Teriwells@gmail.com or Anel Martin anel@isiphoadmin.org.za
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If you feel that you would like to contribute financially to this cause you can visit our funding page at https://gogetfunding.com/isipho-admin-bursary/ every little bit makes a difference and together we can achieve something incredible.
 
– Isipho Admin Directors
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