The KZN Youth International Scholarships and Exchange Programme website www.kznyis.gov.za was launched on the 7 October 2016 by the KwaZulu-Natal Premier Willies Mchunu.

Often the question is asked, “What action has taken place as a result of the annual African Renaissance Conference presentations and discussions?” This project is one of the direct results of this platform.

During the African Renaissance  Festival 2015 under the theme of ‘Entrepreneurs in Africa’ the former Consulate General of India, Mr Rajagopalan Ragunathan, the Consulate General of the United States of America, Ms Frances Chisholm, the former European Union Ambassador, HE Mr Roeland van der Geer, as well as the former minister of Economics and Global Issues at the German Embassy, Mr Andreas Künne, encouraged the African Renaissance Committee to actively engage with them in order to advance and further discuss the request on bursaries and scholarships.

Against this background, the Office of the Premier: Youth Development Chief Directorate: Education and Transversal Bursaries in partnership with the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education was tasked to engage with Mr Kiepiela, the Dean Consular Corps of the European Union member states. The eThekwini Municipality was also approached to be part of the programme. To this end the eThekwini Municipality joined this initiative and it is expected that other municipalities will follow suit.

Speaking at the launch, Premier Willies Mchunu hailed the diplomatic community for working with the KwaZulu-Natal provincial government to create opportunities for young people to study overseas.

Mchunu remarked: “Our vision as the provincial government is for all young people to grow up safe and healthy. More importantly we want the young people of our province to have access to education, including access to higher education in order to achieve socio-economic transformation thus eliminating poverty,
unemployment and inequality.”

“As we officially launch this international youth scholarship programme, we must remember the words of Tata Madiba.

Delivering his Youth Day speech in 1995 in eZakheni Township in Ladysmith, Tata Madiba said: ‘This generation of youth stands at the border-line between the past of oppression and repression, and the future of prosperity, peace and harmony.’ These words are nails on a chalkboard. The most important lesson that must we draw from these words is that Tata Nelson Mandela believed in young people.”

The chance to study in the world’s finest university systems may be a once in a lifetime experience for many students with both personal and professional rewards. Research has shown that studying abroad
positively influences the career path, world-view, and selfconfidence of students. Apart from acquiring new knowledge, learning a new language or honing an existing language skill is a huge advantage that will not easily be equalled at home.

This website will be constantly updated as new opportunities become available and are by no means exhaustive of all scholarships available. We encourage all students to work hard at their studies in order to be eligible to apply for and take advantage of the many opportunities available to study on the global platform. This is an experience that should not be missed.

We urge you to visit the website at www.kznyis.gov.za and join the conversations on social media.

https://www.facebook.com/KZNYIS/