The NOW Fund
Welcome to the NOW Fund.
The NOW Fund provides holistic scholarships for scholars whose families do not have the financial means to access the high-quality education offered by Westerford.
The scholarship covers school fees and the additional costs required to make the most of the opportunities available at a school like Westerford – uniforms, books, sports equipment, transport, lunches etc. The scholarship fund was initiated in 2017 and is led by a volunteer group of Old Westerfordians.
"...We have had just over R800 000 donated since the Fund’s launch in June 2017, which is incredible. We would now love to reach our target for the end of 2025 which is to have reached R2 million in donations. !..."
Where worlds meet
About (OWA) Old Westerfordian Association
We would like to thank all OWs who have generously donated so far – both in their personal capacity and from their businesses.
The NOW Fund currently supports twelve scholars at the school. We have raised just over R 2 million since 2017, and from 2024, we will support 15 scholars at the school.
The scholarship is managed by The Spirit Education Foundation, which takes care of recruitment and selection, psycho-social support, mentorship and the practical elements of assisting the scholars through their time at the school. This includes study support, peer mentorship and counselling, and guidance on subject choice and tertiary education.
All funds donated go directly to the scholars as all costs for this service are covered by Warwick Wealth as a part of their Corporate Social Responsibility programme. No admin fees, no CEO salary, nothing but a contribution to those who really need it. Now doesn’t that sound like an excellent investment opportunity in South Africa’s future?
FAQ
Some Frequently Asked Questions
The Spirit Foundation team work with several Primary Schools and identifies excellent candidates. These scholars are invited to apply for a Spirit Foundation scholarship and, separately, to Westerford. If they are accepted at Westerford and as a Spirit Scholar, they become a NOW Fund scholar.
Scholars must get over 60% aggregate in Term 4 of Grade 6, and their gross family income must be below R20 000 monthly.
We are currently fundraising for scholarships starting in 2025. The total cost per scholar is R275 000 for the full five years at Westerford, including the additional support offered by the Spirit Education Foundation.
It is unlikely that we would remove a scholarship from a scholar. Scholars must maintain their above 60% aggregate and show positive engagement with the school. Tutoring, study guidance and mentorship are provided by the Spirit Foundation, with extra lessons being available for specific subjects if needed.
Yes! The Spirit Education Foundation is a registered Section 18A non-profit organisation and will issue a tax certificate. We also offer tax certificates for our US-based donors.
Connect with us at nowfund@westerford.co.za if you have any more questions.