Grooming young high-impact entrepreneurs

The Allan Gray Orbis Foundation’s 2013 Fellowship programme was launched last week. Foundation Executive Chair, Professor Peter Katjavivi expressed his appreciation to the 25 partner organisations present at the event that kicked off the search for, and identification of, potential 2013 Scholars and Fellows.
The Allan Gray Orbis Foundation doesn’t put conditions on its Scholarships and Fellowships. “We don’t require graduates to come and work for the Foundation. The only return on investment we are looking for is that our graduates build a stronger society that benefits all,” explained Namibian Foundation Director Rukee Moelanjane.
Started in 2008, the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation offers scholarships to learners from Grade 7 onwards and university fellowships to top students in the fields of Engineering, Science, Commerce, Law and Humanities (majoring in Politics, Philosophy and Economics). At the moment the Foundation supports 11 fellows and 32 scholars placed at top performing local schools. The overall aim of the Foundation is to develop and groom entrepreneurial leaders and provide access to start-up capital.
In a unique joint venture, the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation owns 15% of Allan Gray Namibia. Through that joint venture the Foundation receives its share of dividends plus a donation of 5% of Allan Gray Namibia’s pre-tax profits.
So far, Allan Gray Orbis has spent around N$40 million supporting Namibian youth. This year alone the Foundation will spend N$5 million on building entrepreneurship.
A graduated Allan Gray Fellow, Silke Pritzen, gave a testimony of how the Foundation helped her to obtain a four year BSc Eng. degree in Mechatronics at the University of Cape Town. She is now working as a consulting engineer in the electrical department of Seelenbinder Consulting Engineers in Windhoek.