Kwanele Buthelezi, a top student from KwaZulu-Natal, was thrilled to hear the news that Primedia Foundation, which oversees corporate social investment activity for the Primedia group, had offered a bursary that would enable him to continue his studies at university. The bursary was made possible with the help of Shoni Makhari of Flow Public Relations.
“When we heard about the plight of this young man through our association with the Catholic Institute of Education (CIE), we immediately contacted several media houses to try and secure publicity for the student,” says Shoni. “Primedia referred the matter to their Lead SA team and in no time we were informed that Primedia Foundation would take the young man under their wing. We could not be happier!”
Kwanele, who obtained a B symbol average in his 2010 matric results, had almost given up hope of studying towards a Property Management degree. He and his sister live together in an informal settlement, having lost their parents five years ago. Their only means of survival is through the meagre earnings that Kwanele’s sister is able to bring home.
“I am so happy,” he says. “With this bursary I will be able to make my dreams come true.”
Kwanele is a product of the highly successful CIE programme which provides support to 352 schools in mainly rural and peri-urban environments across the country. Flow Communcations has been involved with the CIE for a number of years, having built their website and assisted with the editing of their magazine. Flow PR was recently appointed as the institute’s public relations agency.