About us
The Friends of the Mandela Rhodes Foundation (USA), Inc. was incorporated in October 2005, with a mission to fund the development of exceptional leadership capacity in southern Africa. Thanks to the generosity of its supporters, the Friends of the Mandela Rhodes Foundation has since raised over $6 million. Over $2.8 million has already been granted to a variety of projects, and we continue to carefully evaluate new programs.
Projects supported
Mandela Rhodes Foundation
The Friends of the Mandela Rhodes Foundation has now endowed two Mandela Rhodes Scholarships in perpetuity
through $1 million in grants to the Mandela Rhodes Foundation. In the 2010 class of Mandela Rhodes scholars, these
grants will support Paton Dennison (pictured at left) to attend the University of the Free State and Cara Meintjies (pictured at right) to attend the University of Stellenbosch.
See the "In the news" tab at left for biographies of these impressive students. Visit the Mandela Rhodes Foundation's website
http://www.mandelarhodes.org to learn more about the scholarships program.
The board of the Friends of the Mandela Rhodes Foundation would like to express its sincere condolences to the family and friends of Krishna Khetia, who was elected to the 2010 class of Mandela Rhodes Scholars. Ms. Khetia (pictured at right) passed away after a car accident in January 2010.
Community of Mandela Rhodes Scholars
FoMRF continued its support of the Community of Mandela Rhodes Scholars in
2009 with a grant of $30,000. This alumni network for the Mandela Rhodes scholars was established in 2007 with the help of a grant of $35,000 from the Friends of the Mandela Rhodes Foundation.
The ability of the Mandela Rhodes Foundation to maintain active
involvement and contributions from Mandela Rhodes Scholars
once they graduate is a crucial element of the success of the leadership-building intervention. Visit the Community of Mandela Rhodes Scholars' website at www.cmrs.co.za for more on their latest activities.
South African Education and Environment Project
FoMRF more than doubled its support for the South African Education and Environment Project (SAEP) in 2009 with a grant of $25,000. These funds support the
Bridging Year Program, which brings together recent graduates of Cape Town township high schools for an intensive, full-time, year-long program of individual mentorship, academic tutoring, and community service. At the end of their participation in the Bridging Year Program, students rewrite their matriculation exams and apply for placements in colleges and universities in South Africa.
Visit SAEP at www.saep.org for details on Bridging Year and SAEP's other programs. 2009 SAEP Bridging Year students
Past Projects
On August 20, 2008, following Mr. Mandela's 90th birthday celebrations, a unique academic facility for the Mandela Rhodes Scholars was inaugurated in Cape Town. The Bishopscourt facility allows the consolidation of the various leadership activities of the Mandela Rhodes Scholars, who are dispersed in universities throughout South Africa. A $1.5 million grant from the Friends of the Mandela Rhodes Foundation supported this project.
Ian Glenday, President of FoMRF, presenting birthday wishes
to Mr. Mandela, at the inauguration of the Bishopcourt
academic facility in Cape Town on August 20, 2008.
In 2007 and 2008, the Friends of the Mandela Rhodes Foundation awarded grants of $10,000 to the South African Education and Environment Project to support the Bridging Year Program (formerly called the Gap Year Program).
In 2006, a grant in the amount of $118,000 was awarded to the Mandela Rhodes Foundation’s Scholarships Program in South Africa. (Visit MRF at www.mandelarhodes.org, or view MRF's 2008 yearbook here.)
Mr. Mandela and a 2007 Mandela Rhodes Scholar.
Your support is crucial in helping the Friends of the Mandela Rhodes Foundation
continue its activities of leadership building in Africa.
Please visit our donations page.