Last weekend we met up with the graduates from our bursary programme as we held our second alumni event, once again at the Kelvin Grove Club in Newlands. It was a slightly large event than our first meeting as we were pleased to welcome four new graduates, all of whom have decided to continue their studies at postgraduate level in 2016.

This year’s event was timed to coincide with a visit to Cape Town from our USA team – seen below with the students. John and Carol Thompson founded Masicorp in 1999, and were later joined by Jane Philippi, all of whom now reside full in the United States. Their history with Masicorp has been well documented, and they were present when the first cohort of bursary students made their way from Masiphumelele to university. The majority of the graduates present were funded through a Masicorp support bursary that was made possible by the donations the USA team have raised from among their contacts in the United States.

After being well fed and photographed almost non-stop the graduates were treated to some reminiscences from the overseas visitors and some valuable networking time with Masicorp volunteers and their fellow graduates. We also introduced an E-mentoring scheme at the event, which will see graduates linking up with existing students to give them guidance on the university experience and the subsequent transition to employment and life outside Masiphumelele. The networking aspect of these meeting is seen as a vital outcome for the group and we look forward to reporting back on the progress of our new e-mentors.

Finally, we must thank our patron Dame Linda Dobbs, for once again hosting the event and Louise de Waal from Green Girls in Africa for the photographs on display here.