AFDA Launches P500K Scholarship For SEDC
Correspondent | Monday September 16, 2019 11:19
The agreement, which was signed at the AFDA Gaborone campus, is a way of giving back to the community, according to Tsholofelo Ntshingane, the institution’s chief executive officer.
Several members of the famous KTM Choir are from the district and according to Ntshingane, this is proof of abundance of talent in the area. “We need to nurture this talent,” he said.
AFDA will offer two bursaries every year for the courses they offer while the council will identify beneficiaries from within the district. The institution will further, with the help of the council, give priority to residents of the district when awarding tenders.
“We are obliged to give back to the community in which we operate. There are many youth businesses, but there is no market so we will allow them to trade here,” stated Ntshingane.
Furthermore, he said AFDA had left clear footprint and produced graduates with status. To illustrate this he gave an example of one of their products, Mompati Rantuana who was recruited by an international film company from the school. Rantuana is expected to hold auditions at the campus in the near future. Two other AFDA products who are awaiting graduation are set to go to Zambia on a MultiChoice scholarship.
A grateful SEDC chairperson, Phenyo Segokgo said the agreement would help free up some of their budget for other endeavours.
He was, however, quick to note that they would have to fulfill monitoring and evaluation requirements. The parties will meet either once a year or quarterly for evaluation and monitoring.
Segokgo was elated with prospects of other spins offs envisaged in the performance arts and film industry saying they would inject capital in the district.
The first beneficiaries of the arrangement are 19-year-old twins Refilwe and Reneilwe Molefe, enrolled for the live performance programme. Speaking to The Monitor, one of the twin sisters, Reneilwe relayed their ordeal as they tried to find placement to no avail.
“We applied to Oodi College but did not get a response. I suppose it’s because they had a shortage of spaces. We really struggled to be here so we are happy also because this kind of opportunity comes once in a lifetime.”
It was only after they registered with the council that their luck changed. Reneilwe revealed that the council employee took their papers and applied for them after telling them about the arts school.
After the launch and signing of the MoU a movie that was produced by the students without the help of lecturers was screened.