Waterford School Trust

“Waterford Kamhlaba School in Swaziland is indebted to Oilaid for the outstanding financial support it has received from the Chelsea Football event over the past few years. It has made an enormous difference to the school’s bursary programme for financially disadvantaged but exceptionally talented African children. Through the support provided by Oilaid, these children are able to attend the school and benefit from the outstanding education it provides. We are very grateful to all who provide such life enhancing financial support and delighted to be beneficiaries again this year.

The school is considered to be a beacon of academic excellence in the region and has 500 students, aged from 11-18, 75% of whom are African. Over 100 of these students are only able to attend as a result of bursary provision. Many are orphaned by the HIV epidemic sweeping sub-Saharan Africa and others come from refugee camps or countries torn apart by wars. Without bursary provision they would normally be unable to realise their true potential – or in some case not even have access to any education at all.

As a direct result of the Oilaid funding, the school is able to continue to maintain its vitally important bursary programme. The following are just a few examples of those students who have benefited and who are doing extremely well at Waterford. Sadly, their stories are not unique but each one is one of determination and the willingness to use whatever resources are required to overcome adversity.

Banele came to the school from a local high school in Swaziland. He is the youngest in a family of six and his father died in 2003. His mother is the sole breadwinner and she works as a street vendor.

Kabelo joined the school in 2004 from a local high school. He comes from a family of three and his mother is the sole breadwinner and works in the civil service. He has never seen his dad and he is not even sure if his dad is alive.

Ntokozo comes from a family of seven, two of which are not his siblings. His family has been affected by the endless round of early deaths sweeping this country and they have adopted the children of a deceased uncle. Ntokozo’s father is a policeman.

Dalamuzi joined the IB programme in 2007 from Zimbabwe. Like so many families in Zimbabwe, Dalamuzi’s parents have been left financially devastated by the economic and political instability in their country. His father is the sole breadwinner, working at the National University of Science and Technology, and is unable to pay school fees for his children even in Zimbabwe.

Mthobisi is an orphan. His father’s estate was contested by various relatives, and because of this he was left with nothing. Although he has an aunt who is able to care for him during the holidays, she does not have the resources to provide for him in addition to her own children

Mahkhosonkhe’s mother used to work for the sugar industry. She was retrenched several years ago, leaving her unable to pay school fees or to provide for her family. His father was an abusive alcoholic, and left the family when Makhosonkhe was very young.

The Waterford School Trust – a registered UK charity – exists to raise the necessary funding for the school to allow these able but disadvantaged young children to achieve a worthwhile education and contribute in the future to regenerating and sustaining the continent.”

UK registered charity number 313908