Diane Stafford
Regional Director: Canada
Development & Alumni Department, University of Cape Town

Postal Address: 2927 LakeShore Blvd West, Suite 227,  TORONTO, ON  M8V 1J3
Tel: 416 648 5801   Email: info@UCTcanada.ca;  website:  www.UCTcanada.ca

The news reverberated across the globe on Sunday April 18th, such is the power of social media.  I immediately began receiving calls from alumni wanting more information, or to share their anguish at seeing the Jagger Library and other parts of the campus and Cape Town burning.  Distressing videos of students evacuating campus amidst fire and smoke, distressing videos of Smuts Hall residents in vain trying to keep the flames at bay, met with a response of “What can we do?”, I hastily sent out an appeal to alumni to support the Fire Emergency Fund – and within 5 days UCTCanada had received $50,000 from alumni across the country.  Our heartfelt thanks go out to those who had the capacity, and felt the need to send support.  Those funds have been sent down to Cape Town to meet the needs of students, staff and other emergency needs.  An update from the Vice-Chancellor is included below.

Now the time of assessment and rebuilding is taking place.  Already meetings are being held, looking to the future.  Exciting plans are being put in place.

Three UCT students have been chosen out of a cohort of 40 international students to participate in the Next Generation Leaders program, an initiative by the Talloires Network of Engaged Universities in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation.  The program designed to harness diverse and ethical approaches to civic engagement and activism, provides opportunities for connection on civic matters with like-minded leaders from across the globe, dissecting problems both multi-nationally and on  multilevel viewpoints.

Read more on how these young leaders plan to participate in the four themes of Pandemic Recovery and Resilience, Innovations in Gender Equity, Structured Listening Methods and Civic Engagement Futures.

UCT Archeology are uncovering valuable insights in the Kalahari and uncovering intriguing evidence of our ancient ancestors, opening up interesting narratives of  ‘modern’ humans  living beyond the coastal shoreline.

The Hidden Spring is the culmination of Mark Solms's scientific work: an attempt to
solve the 'hard problem' of consciousness.  He recently launched the book to alumni and friends.  I include a link here where he discusses his book on The Meaning Code platform.

The Bongani Mayosi Medical Student Academic Prize epitomises the leadership qualities and values of the late UCT Dean of Health Sciences, Professor Bongani Mayosi whose mantra was “Lift as you rise”.  2020 recipient, Dr Peace Francis, lives by those values,

Read more about the rigour of her training, and her heartwarming and inspiring interactions with Prof Mayosi.

Late last year a series of discussions were held across the UCT Campus as the Vice-Chancellor’s 2030 Vision was taking shape.

“In looking towards the future, we have to remain aware of the rapidly changing world around us, with its advancing technologies and its environmental and social challenges. We have to think strategically about how we see this university in 2030, and so we have to ask ourselves the question, “The world is changing, are we?”.

2020 saw a group of young professionals in Toronto and Cape Town launch the Young Professionals Scholarship, with the aim of forming a network of young professionals providing mentorship and financial support, in order to grow  a supporting network of professionals that seek to foster the best in each other and the future of their peers.

Dr Shaheer Aboobaker, Faculty of Health Science alumnus, spearheaded this project, and here he provides his report on the initial year of the scholarship..

Emeritus Prof George Ellis moderates this discussion between Clem Sunter and Abbas Jamie, considering global economic changes, pandemic scenarios and Futures Thinking -how we respond to the future  vs how we can shape the future.

The UCT 100UP program, run through the Schools Development Unit has been in existence since 2011 and has played a critical role in over 1,000 youth from Khayelitsha,  and more recently Mitchell’s Plain and Philippi, accessing tertiary education.  The University became aware of the paucity in students from these areas gaining access to UCT due to poorly resourced schools’ under-performance in final high school examinations.  The program broadens access by providing academic support, coaching and mentorship over a three-year period.  Can you imagine not even considering that a university education was even possible?  100UP has made that dream come true.

See the program in action. 

And here are the results.

2020 was a tumultuous year, with more than one appeal going out for emergency support.  In total almost $500,000 was raised for UCT initiatives directly from Canadian alumni.  This support ranged from Student Covid-19 emergency support for basic survival such as food support and technology supports, to keeping the Baxter Theatre open, regular alumni bursary support, and Ikeys rugby support.  Alumni continue to support the Canadian Alumni MBChB Bursary fund, and a number of family named bursaries. 

We are so grateful for the committed support from our alumni in Canada, for keeping the connection to UCT, and making a difference in the lives of students during their university years.  This is a time that sets the tone for the future, and your help goes a long way to easing the financial burden.  Many of our students are the first in their family to attend University, and the impact of their education and earning potential can benefit entire families.

So we say, THANK YOU.

UCT is a “prescribed university” under Schedule VIII of the Canadian Income Tax Act.  Canadian donations qualify for a tax rebate.

Apart from receiving cash donations, and gifts through Wills, we are now able to accept tax effective donations of stocks and securities.  This is made possible through Charitable Impact. 

Contact Di Stafford for more information, or visit the UCTCanada donations page.  Your support matters.