Scholars committed to creating an open and just society in southern Africa are invited to apply for one of five prestigious scholarships currently available from the Canon Collins Trust, including one fully-funded scholarship to study in Ireland.
Two of the scholarships are in memory of apartheid struggle heroes whose remarkable contributions towards the realisation of democracy are remembered in history: Joel Joffe – Nelson Mandela’s lawyer during the Rivonia Trial; and Kader Asmal, former Minister of Education and leader of the anti-apartheid movement in Ireland.
August is Women’s Month, and the Tom Queba Engineering Scholarship for Social Change supports black female engineers to pursue Master’s degrees in engineering fields.Tom Queba was a leader in the George taxi industry. His passion, commitment, and vision for improved public transport in
George contributed greatly to the achievement of the GO GEORGE bus service. He was tragically killed in 2014, and this scholarship is in his memory. All the scholarships are awarded to scholars who are working towards real social impact – and who will especially benefit from financial support.
For 38 years, the Canon Collins Trust has been building a community of change agents who create and use knowledge for positive social impact, disbursing 3500 scholarships to date. In 2018 alone,
the Trust awarded 62 new scholarships and supported 118 scholars in their studies at 30 universities in South Africa and the United Kingdom.
A highlight for all successful scholars is the opportunity to build networks and share knowledge through the scholarship events programme, including the Scholars’ Conference that takes place each year. Events create a forum for scholars to deepen their engagement with current critical issues.
They are described by the UCT Dean of Science, Maano Ramutsindela as “a meeting place of very brilliant minds”.
The Canon Collins Trust Alumni Network is an extraordinary group of leaders from across southern
Africa who continue to associate, in order to further the commitment to social justice and ‘give back’
to the generations that follow. It includes ministers, a public protector, directors, CEOs and
outstanding lawyers, educators, scientists and business leaders, who are now leading change in their
communities and the wider region. Distinguished Alumni include Janet Love, vice-chair of the IEC;
Maano Ramutsindela, UCT Dean of Science; Mary Kachale, Malawi’s Public Protector; Isaac
Chipampe, Zambia’s State House Press Aide; Dewa Mavhinga, Southern Africa director, Human
Rights Watch; Nicolette Naylor, Regional Head, Ford Foundation; Leslie Maasdorp, Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer of the New Development Bank, and Pamela Salela, UK Head, Brand South
Africa.
Canon Collins Trust was founded in 1981 as the education arm of the ‘Defence and Aid Fund’. Set up in the 1960s by anti-apartheid activist Canon John Collins and banned under apartheid, the Fund paid for legal costs and provided welfare support for individuals and families of those accused of treason by the South African regime. To apply to visit the website ![]()
www.canoncollins.org.uk/apply
