UCT Australian Trust Women's Lunch
Event description
Alumni and friends of the University of Cape Town are warmly invited to our inaugural UCT Women's lunch, to reconnect with old friends and establish new ones and to find out more about the UCT Australian Trust.
We look forward to meeting you.
About the UCT Australian Trust
The UCT Australian Trust is a charitable foundation established by alumni and supporters of UCT in Australia and New Zealand. We raise funds to provide financial support for a range of educational programs managed by the UCT. Projects selected by the Australian Trust focus on education and health and aim to assist disadvantaged South African communities rise above poverty.
About our cause:
Our cause that we are focusing on this year at UCT Australia is helping students to graduate. There are around 230 UCT students who have finished their qualifications and cannot graduate as they are unable to pay off their student loans. The average fees per student owing is around $6k, and this is preventing them from working in their chosen fields as doctors, teachers and other professions. So they are earning unskilled labour rates in the meantime. Very sad given the country desperately needs these qualified people. Not to mention the sacrifice they have made to get to university and finish their qualifications against incredible odds. Over 50% are the first in their family to go to university. A big cultural shock, and lots of hard work. And then stuck at the finish line indefinitely. Last year we quadrupled the average annual amounts raised to $80k. Our target this year is to double last year's donations and raise $160k. This means allowing roughly 28 students to graduate. All proceeds from the lunch will go to this cause.
Dietary Requirements: Please advise of any dietary requirements by Friday 15 September 2023. We do not provide refunds, but you may give your ticket to a friend if you're unable to attend.