St David’s Marist Inanda Bursary Project

St David's Marist Inanda, an all-boys school in Sandton, Johannesburg, is an African Marist Catholic school committed to educational excellence. St David’s was founded in 1941, in what was open veld at the time, but now borders the richest square mile in Africa. St David’s believes that a quality education, based on sound values is imperative in shaping the lives of our youth, and in continuing to transform our country into an equitable and just society. The St David’s Marist Foundation is the school’s trust, established in 2006 to support the long-term strategic objectives of the School, which include increasing access through bursary funding. Our vision is to be able to fund 5 bursaries per grade across the school – the Foundation is funding 22 bursaries this year, in partnership with like-minded donors and supporters.

Building Bridges of Hope and Support

The St David’s Bursary Programme has always existed at St David’s but within the last 15 years has formalised into a structured programme of holistic support, built upon learnings made over the years, and honest feedback given by previous bursary scholars.

The majority of the Foundation-funded bursary recipients are from Alexandra. The township of Alexandra, with a population of close to 1 million, is only 7kms away from St David’s but is one of the poorest urban areas in South Africa, with many of the residents living in informal dwellings and shacks. Potential bursary candidates are identified by the School, working in partnership with the Alexandra Education Committee, the Student Sponsorship Programme and feeder schools and partners.

Whilst exciting, it is also difficult for any child entering a new school environment, and even more so for a Grade 8 bursary scholar getting their bearings with a new school, teachers, social environment, classmates, friends, syllabus and opportunities available. Sometimes feeling caught between two worlds with the added perceived or real pressure of being awarded a prestigious bursary, it requires a carefully held and guided approach to ensure that each boy will have the best possible experience, support and opportunity to thrive.

A St David’s bursary covers not only tuition and educational material requirements but all other aspects required to ensure that a St David’s bursary scholar has an equal an educational experience as possible. This includes sporting and cultural activity requirements, camps, tours, uniforms, IT requirements, transport and meals, as well as data and wifi connectivity for studying at home if the bursary scholar is not in weekly boarding at St David’s. Bursary scholars are connected into a holistic network of support at St David’s through the St David’s Bursary Programme Coordinator.

St David’s Marist Inanda and the St David’s Marist Foundation are committed to both educational excellence and creating access to our excellent school, in support of our own Marist ethos but also in support of our country’s needs and goals and the UN Sustainable Development Goal of Access to Quality Education.

St David's Marist Inanda Bursary Project

by St David's Marist Foundation Trust

Johannesburg Education

Project activity

Funded to date:

R 100,000

Funding goal: R 100,000

NGO: St David's Marist Foundation Trust

Start: 1st September 2022

End: 2nd April 2025

PBO: 930023385

Field agent: Fiona Budd
buddf@stdavids.co.za