THE FUND
Photo taken by Hugo Attfield
THE FUND
The S.A.T.S. General Botha Old Boys’ Association Bursary Fund (GBOBA BF) was launched in 2011 after a visit by S.A.T.S. General Botha Old Boys’ Association (GBOBA) reunion groups to the Lawhill Maritime Centre (LMC) at Simon’s Town School. Lawhill so impressed the ex Bothie cadets as being similar to the General Botha in its years as a training ship, a nautical college and an academy that is was decided that it would be valuable and appropriate to establish a bursary fund to assist in the education and training of young South Africans for maritime careers.
STUDENTS AND SPONSORS
Bursaries are awarded to carefully assessed students mainly from disadvantaged backgrounds to attend Lawhill Maritime Centre
at Simon’s Town High School. Besides two languages, Mathematics, Physical Science, Physical Science and Life Orientation, the maritime-related subjects of Maritime Economics, Marine Sciences and Nautical Science are taken as preparation for entry into careers
in the shipping industry. Real dedication is required of our students to do well in all these subjects! Students board at LMC and for those who live outside of Cape Town funding for termly transport to and from home is provided.
Grade 10
Grade 10
Grade 10
Grade 10
Grade 11
Grade 11
Grade 11
Grade 11
Grade 12
Grade 12
Grade 12
Grade 12
TERTIARY STUDENTS
The Fund incorporated the Society of Master Mariners South Africa Bursary Fund in 2016, enabling it to extend its bursary awards to tertiary level students from 2017. Several students have completed their tertiary studies with distinctions and are well under way in their maritime careers.
MENTORING
Nurturing Sea Fever
Intergenerational mentoring is a unique factor that differentiates the Bursary Fund from other organisations. It is a constant component of beneficiaries’ journey with the Fund and continues when they start their maritime career. This is provided by “Old Salts” including former Captains of Industry and other male and female professionals.
SAIL AND MOTORBOAT TRAINING
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The Bursary Fund recognised the need to supplement school academics with extracurricular activities to aid all round development. The focus is on sailing and motorboat training with the goal of achieving an accredited qualification.
All Grade 10 LMC learners and selected Sea Cadets complete swimming lessons to ensure that they are water safe before going out into the ocean. This is followed by pre-sea training conducted in conjunction with the NSRI. Thereafter weekend training is provided by qualified skippers on yachts or motorboats to help the students gain their sea time as well as theoretical knowledge.
This programme aims to alleviate unemployment by providing new skills, opportunities, and team building. It has been the key to successful maritime employment for a number of former participants. On average, 50 students participate per annum. Thus far eleven students have qualified with a South African Sailing Day Skippers Licence and twenty with a SAMSA Category E Motorboat licence.
PAST STUDENTS
Since inception the Bursary Fund has funded 60 students at LMC and/or for tertiary studies. Many are excelling in their careers since leaving the nurturing environment that the Bursary Fund provides. We are proud to report that past students are climbing the maritime ranks: with two Masters, seven Officers of the Watch and four Cadets while others are making their way in other aspects of the maritime industry or alternative careers.