As we reflect on the past year, I am gratified to share the significant strides we have made in empowering young minds and building success through the PPS Foundation’s programmes. Our commitment to improving access to education and supporting the development of young South Africans has yielded achievements that we share in this report.

In 2023, we celebrated the graduation of 19 students from our Bursary Programme. This achievement shows the dedication and resilience of our bursary recipients and demonstrates the impact of our support on their academic success. Being part of these newly minted graduate’s journeys has shown me the transformative power of the programme.

When it comes to our University Support Programme, we made meaningful contributions to two universities. At the University of Fort Hare, our support enabled the establishment of the Career Centre, which is now a pivotal resource for students seeking guidance and opportunities in their career journeys. We also facilitated refurbishment of the Dentistry Postgraduate Work Lounge at the University of Western Cape, providing a dedicated space for advanced learning and collaboration. These initiatives highlight our ongoing commitment to enhancing educational infrastructure and creating supportive environments for student success.

Our LEAP (Learned, Engaged, Accelerated, Professionals) Work-Readiness programme also saw significant reach, impacting more than 700 students last year. By providing workshops on essential skills such as CV writing, interview techniques, personal branding and financial education, LEAP has equipped students with the tools they need to thrive in the professional world. The positive response and high participation levels show the crucial role this programme plays in preparing our youth for the job market.

However, alongside these successes, we face considerable challenges. The demand for our support far exceeds the available resources. Last year, we received approximately 6 000 bursary applications in October alone, which underscores the immense need for financial assistance among students. This demand highlights the necessity of finding like-minded partners and forming collaborations to support even more students.

Our focus has primarily been on the "missing middle" – students who do not qualify for university funding intended for lower-income families but still face significant financial challenges. Since the global lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic, the resulting surge in inflation has intensified economic pressures on all South Africans, hitting the middle class particularly hard. This makes it even more crucial that we provide support to these students Many of their families are employed yet struggle to afford higher education without accruing substantial debt. Our goal is to alleviate this burden so students can focus on their studies without constant financial worries.

As we move forward, our commitment to empowering minds and building success remains strong. We will continue to seek innovative solutions and form strategic partnerships to expand our impact. Thank you for your ongoing support and collaboration in this journey. Together, we are making a meaningful difference in the lives of South African students.