About us
Rooted in the belief that a shortage of individual human skills
is a significant factor holding South Africa and Africa back from
achieving the necessary levels of good governance and growth
to allow the continent to take its place in the globalised world,
the mission of the Friends of the Mandela Rhodes Foundation is to help
develop exceptional leadership capacity in southern Africa.
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 nearly $6.5 million. Over $4.2 million has already been granted to a variety of projects, and we continue to carefully evaluate new programs.
Projects supported Mandela Rhodes FoundationThe Friends of the Mandela Rhodes Foundation has now endowed five Mandela Rhodes Scholarships in perpetuity amounting to over $3 million in grants to the Mandela Rhodes Foundation.
In the 2012 class, the Friends' endowed scholarships are supporting (from left) Nhlakanipho Nkwanyana for a Masters degree in Psychology at the University of Zululand; Yumna Laher for a Masters degree in International Relations at the University of the Witwatersrand; Patrick Ebewo for a Masters in Entrepreneurship degree at Tshwane University of Technology; and Angela Obwaka for an Honours degree in Strategic Management at the University of Johannesburg.
In the 2011 class of Mandela Rhodes scholars, the Friends' grants supports Maletsabisa Molapo (pictured above left) to attend the University of Cape Town for a Masters in Computer Science; Tarsianna Machekabuwe (pictured second from left above) to attend Stellenbosch University for a Masters in Psychology; Dananai Muchemenye (pictured second from right above) to attend the University of the Western Cape for a Masters in Tax Law; and Cara Meintjies (pictured above right) to attend Stellenbosch University for the second year of her Masters program in International Studies.
In the 2010 class of Mandela Rhodes scholars, the Friends' endowed scholarships supported Paton Dennison to attend the University of the Free State and Cara Meintjies to attend Stellenbosch University. 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 passed away after a car accident in January 2010.
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.
Community of Mandela Rhodes Scholars
FoMRF continued its support of the Community of Mandela Rhodes Scholars in 2011 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 cmrscholars.org for more on their latest activities.
South African Education and Environment Project
2011 SAEP Bridging Year reunion
FoMRF continued its support of the South African Education and Environment Project (SAEP) in 2011 with a grant of $30,000, following a 2010 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.
At left, Ian Glenday, President of FoMRF, presents birthday wishes to Mr. Mandela at the inauguration of the Bishopscourt 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.)
At right, Mr. Mandela meets 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.