The International Peace College South Africa (IPSA) launched the inaugural Shaykh Yusuf Scholarship Waqf Endowment fund at its annual banquet dinner. IPSA together with their strategic partner AwqafSA hosted the annual fundraising banquet, which took place on Tuesday at the Conference and Exhibition Centre at Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden.

This year with the help of corporate table hosts, hundreds of community members gathered for an evening of celebratory commendation of inaugural and momentous milestones.

Corporate sponsors were thanked and it was noted to be the start of a meaningful partnership between IPSA, AwqafSA and the investors.

“IPSA is very grateful that many students will benefit from the community’s generosity and support. From the banquet proceeds R3500 will be invested in the Shaykh Yusuf Scholarship Waqf Fund on behalf of each corporate sponsor who hosted a table, and they will receive an official waqf certificate in the Shaykh Yusuf Scholarship Waqf Fund,” the university said in a press statement.

IPSA has set itself the target of growing the Shaykh Yusuf Scholarship Waqf Fund to R50 million in five years to award 80 to 100 merit scholarships every year. The Shaykh Yusuf Scholarship Waqf Fund was inaugurated with a cheque hand-over of R2 million.

It was noted on the evening that the most important lesson we can take from the life and example of Shaykh Yusuf, key figure in South African history, is that investing in education is critical. It is the fundamental driver of personal development and ultimately contributes positively to a greater society. It is therefore apt that the first scholarship partnership between IPSA and Awqaf SA be called the Shaykh Yusuf Scholarship Waqf.

The guest speaker for the evening was Chief of the Mvezo Traditional Council and former president Nelson Mandela’s grandson, Mandla Mandela.

“I want to commend IPSA on the work that they have done and on the many accomplishments over the past twelve years, in particular I want to thank them for putting together this fundraising gala dinner evening. I am sure events of this nature play a seminal role in the very survival of institutions such as IPSA”, said Mandla Mandela.

The entertainment for the evening was a captivating mix of spoken poetry, instrumental intimacy of the Turkish ney flute and noteworthy speakers. VOC