February 2021
We are delighted to report on another one of our bursary recipients we've kept in contact with over the years. The programme ran for a few years, but has since been discontinued. The main beneficiaries were children of farm workers on Waitrose Foundation partner farms.
We're introducing Willene Paulse. Willene grew up on Rietfontein farm in the Koue Bokkeveld and went to school in Paarl. The farm is owned by Graaff Fruit (exporter Delecta Fruit). Both Willene's parents worked on Rietfontein and when the bursary programme was introduced, her father decided to apply for a study bursary for Willene. She completed her high school education in 2013 and her application for a bursary for further study was accepted.
The Foundation then funded her studies through the University of Stellenbosch where she completed her B.A. degree (2014 - 2016). Willene then continued her studies, successfully completing her Post Graduate Certificate in Education in 2017 after which she secured a teaching position at Wynberg Girls' High School in the Southern suburbs of Cape Town, teaching Afrikaans and Life Orientation.
Today Willene is still employed at Wynberg Girls' High. She is grateful for the opportunity she had to further her education through the Foundation's bursary programme. We are delighted that she is enjoying her career in teaching, even though she had a very challenging 2020 with the impact that Covid-19 regulations had on teachers and learners. She is positive about 2021 and have been preparing for the new academic year. We wish her a rewarding, productive and safe year ahead!
