Intlantsi Foundation

Intlantsi Foundation is a non-profit organization that assists students from rural areas with career guidance, university applications and funding. Rural students are not only at a disadvantage because of the poor infrastructure in their schools, but the lack of knowledge nor access to information also plays a big role in hindering them from reaching their potential. We are currently focussing on schools in Flagstaff and Lusikisiki.

A survey we conducted in 2015 at Mfundisweni SSS revealed that the top careers of choice for the matric students were Social Worker, Doctor, Teacher, Bank Teller and Clerk. This is not because the students all love these professions. It is all they know. The students had never seen a university prospectus or any book (like Careers A-Z) that detailed career options and their requirements.

Above all, Intlantsi Foundation aims to give relevant and contemporary career guidance to schools. This will not only be achieved by distributing career guides, but young professionals will be gathered to give insight about their career. In addition, Intlantsi Foundation assists students in applying for universities, and applying for funding.

Intlantsi Foundation was founded by Zine (Mdleleni) Misani and Lusanda (Mgudu) Njenge in 2015 in response to the hardships faced by the rural youth in Eastern Cape in relation to accessing higher education. As a pilot, Mfundisweni SSS in Flagstaff was adopted as our first school. We assisted the top 10 students with career choices and university applications. We also assisted the top Maths & Science learners in Sisonke District with applications for funding. Of the top 10 students in Mfundisweni, 4 were given firm university offers:

1 x Business Science - Rhodes (Samkelo Zotha)

1 x BSc Chem Eng - UCT & BSc Actuarial Science (Wits). Student chose Actuarial Science (Lulama Mcebi - 7 distinctions and 95% for Maths)

2 x BSc Computer Science Wits (Yamnkela Somtsewu and Masibulele Mboyi)

We have partnered with various other foundations and through our network we managed to secure 5 bursaries for 2016. 4 Bursaries were awarded to Noluthando Dludla, a student from rural Sisonke who obtained 7 distinctions and above 90% for Maths and Science. She is studying towards Medicine at UKZN.

Intlantsi is a Xhosa for "a spark". It is the start of great things. It is a glimmer of hope. It is a promise of things to come.