Since its inception 27 years ago The Overberg Community Trust, with its mission of community development and social and economic upliftment, has done exactly what the name says by assisting various communities in the Overberg municipal areas of Theewaters- kloof, Cape Agulhas, Overstrand and Swellendam.
The trust held its annual awards ceremony on Saturday 12 April at the Tsogo Sun Caledon Casino Hotel & Spa, where successful applicants received their award certificates. Forty students received financial aid to the value of R252 000.
This financial aid, which is awarded in three payments throughout the year, is determined on a sliding scale according to parents’ income. The chosen fields of study by the successful applicants varied from teaching, medicine and architecture, among others.
After Rev Patty Edwards, chairperson of the Trust, opened with a prayer, trustee Sybill October explained the application process and stressed forms should be filled in correctly potentially to qualify for financial aid.
She said any trustee or the office could be contacted to assist with applications. October also mentioned that students who consistently obtain 80% in six subjects could be considered for a merit award.
Keynote speaker Thomas Volkwyn, circuit manager of Circle 3 of Overberg District Education, congratulated the Trust on a wonderful occasion and thanked them for creating opportunities for the young people of the Overberg.
“You have been chosen. You were not lucky. You have been blessed. Seize the opportunity and build on this to attract more opportunities. This is an inspiration; this opens opportunities for you. This is not about money; this is about building the Overberg and to help young people. We rely on you. You are our future doctors, our future nurses, our future teachers. You are our future professionals. Matric is the gateway. We need you to be an example, to be an inspiration to those who come after you. We need you to tell them ‘You can make it against all odds.’ The world is your oyster.
“We are counting on you to come back to the Overberg to make us proud. We are counting on you to come and build our community.”
This prestigious event was not only attended by trustees, students and their parents, but also by Claude Bassuday, chairperson of the Gambling Board, Asogen Chetty of the Gambling Board and Lynton January of the Tsogo Sun Caledon Casino Hotel & Spa.
