YWOW: Young Women of Worth Education, South Africa

The Epworth Foundation (EF) YOUNG WOMEN OF WORTH (YWOW) PROJECT focuses daily and passionately on fortifying the pipeline of women leaders for our world.

We do this through Epworth School, renowned for 124 years in AFRICA for producing an exceptionally high ratio of women influencers in the home, the workplace, the community and in government.

The EF is loyally supported by donors around the globe who acknowledge ‘roi’ (return on investment) into education for young high school girls, especially in the developing world.

By age 18, when our students matriculate, they are relevant, resilient and ethical leaders in the making, far less likely to fall into the traps of poor decision-making. Above all, their deep sense of self-WORTH is unmistakable.

Here are some educational activities offered at Epworth School this past quarter underscoring HOW YOU dear donor have helped us broaden the base of access to world class education through our acclaimed YWOW bursary program. 

 As the 4^th academic quarter of our year commences, even with the stresses of finals ahead, our girls are always well-prepared. It is not uncommon for a good number of our bursary recipients to enter our school from age 13-15, coming from lower quintile schools and speaking in the vernacular. Our bursary program provides, on a needs-basis, where academic and/or psycho-social challenges are noted. A distinctive feature of Epworth’s education is to assist pupils’ distinctive needs in order to help them blossom as individuals.

 Epworth’s Young Women of Worth are bold examples of Angelina Jolie’s belief that ‘There is no greater pillar of stability than a STRONG, FREE & EDUCATED WOMAN’

Our YWOW bursary program strives for this and thrives on this!

Links:

• YWOW Head GIRL thanks

 ‘The highest return of investment in the developing world is into girls education’ .... Lawrence Summers, ex World Bank / Chief Economist (2010)

The YWOW (Young Women of Worth) Measurables:

We are delighted to report to our donors progress to date since becoming part of the GlobalGiving Forum. Through our Scholarships, Bursaries, and Financial Assistance program, in support of Young Women of Worth, our school Epworth aided  144 pupils in the academic year of 2021. We are grateful to our alumni and Friends of the Foundation (non-alumni individuals, corporates and parastatals) who, in collaboration with Epworth School, assisted 19 additional students. Our gratitude to YOU, our donors is immense!!

An Immeasurable:

One of our young bursary recipients ~ Thando J ~ began Grade 10 at Epworth at the beginning of 2020 on the strength of bursary assistance. Unfortunately she had only just arrived to the Epworth BE (boarding establishment) when COVID forced her back to her south coast home 2 months later, and into an online learning environment provided by the school within 3 short weeks of national shutdown (being the Easter holidays).

Undeterred, Thando has coped admirably with COVID and language and cultural challenges since her arrival at Epworth, and today – half way through her matric (Gr 12) year, she is now a young pupil of promise, receiving this report comment from her grade teacher Ms Juliet I. "Thando J  is a confident , sensible pupil who takes her work seriously and gives each task her undivided attention. She is goal driven and motivated in both her academics and responsibilities as a senior at Epworth. I am delighted to have been a part of her journey this year as she matriculates this year’

We AGAIN thank each of YOU,our donors for the immeasurable part you have played in positvely impacting upon yet another Young Woman of Worth’s life!

The Power of Compassion: 

Another of our many remarkable past students, Bridget N, gifted by this bursary scheme and who matriculated over 10 years ago, today finds herself as the Finance industry manager & Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Coach of one of SA’s top IT companies. She recently wrote a powerful tribute of gratitude for a recent school publication, reminding us of the great need for compassion in education and how often it’s the small things that make a BIG difference:

‘Our main focus was trying to foster a spirit of compassion and selflessness within the heart of the Epworth girls, for it is through awakening these qualities that the compassion of the school proves its power. As an Interact Club under the wing of Rotary we undertook the motto: Service Above Self! I recall how on Valentine’s Day, the Interact Club visited RS/local Old Age Home. The girls embraced the experience wholeheartedly, giving out roses and singing to the residents. This experience touched both residents and the girls in an unforgettable way.

Having felt the beauty of brightening the lives of others, we decided to encourage the school as a whole to adopt this attitude of compassion. We started a yoghurt tub collection for the local St D soup kitchen. The school responded with enthusiasm collecting a whopping two hundred yoghurt tubs by the end of the term. Due to the success of this collection, this is now an ongoing drive at Epworth High School.

The annual easter egg collection proved to be a great success with mountains of Easter eggs being given by the Epworth Community. In total, four thousand Easter eggs were donated to the children of N School and E Hospital. Since we believe that home is where the heart is, we also gave our estate staff an Easter surprise.

Towards the end of the first term, we held an all-night Interact Danceathon and put Epworth’s endurance to the test—but by the early hours of the morning it was just a fight to stay awake, with all dancing abandoned. Through this we raised R2500, which would be later used to refurbish the N School reading room.

In this same spirit of compassion, the next term was devoted to the Winter Drive that year.  Once again, the school rose to the occasion, collecting a busload of food and clothes.  The children of N School felt a touch of warmth that winter. 

Another term was dedicated to renewing N School’s reading room by redecorating, buying books and magazines, and creating a comfortable environment for the children to read in.

May compassion through structured clubs such as the Interact club continues to grow in strength!’

Faith, Compassion, Courage

Where so many South African students are not as fortunate, the firm foundation and financial management of Epworth for nearly 125 years have protected and promoted strong values of Faith, Compassion and Courage in its pupils during times of crisis and change. Our donors are an immeasurable part of this magnificent legacy. Thank you for the part each of you play in this impact as we move towards our 125th year next year in 2023.

‘Alone we can do so little. Together we can do so much’ ~ Helen Keller.

Links:

• More about the Epworth Foundation