First-Year Students Introduced to Financial Aid Programme

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The Ikusasa Student Financial Aid Programme (ISFAP) held a special event to welcome first-year students who recently obtained ISFAP grant in the College of Health Sciences (CHS) at UKZN.

ISFAP was established as a funding model to cater for the Higher Education needs and costs of South Africa’s “poor” and “middle-class” students.

The event took place at the UKZN Medical School with the aim of providing information about the ISFAP and what it means to be a member of the programme.

About 111 CHS students have so far been assisted by the ISFAP with tuition and accommodation fees, and food and living allowances, while some have also received laptops and support in areas such as psychological counselling.

UKZN/ISFAP Representative Ms Sinegugu Khuzwayo and ISFAP Head Office representative, Mr Lindelani Duze spoke on a variety of issues in which the programme involves itself.

Khuzwayo opened the official event telling students how they could succeed through self-awareness and self-encouragement, explaining the difference between a fixed mindset and a growth mindset.

She challenged first-year students to push themselves beyond what they thought was possible and to inspire and encourage each other while always being mindful of the consequences of their actions.

Lindelani spoke about the ISFAP’s vision advising students to make use of all the support structures on offer and to commit to their studies.

A variety of guest speakers shared details of their personal and academic journeys telling students that studies were the building blocks and foundations of their tomorrows. 

The event closed with testimonials from two third-year ISFAP students who spoke on the value of the programme and the support they had received from it. 

Words: Lihle Sosibo