The Ghodrati Foundation is a private non-profit organization that aims to fund charitable causes and provide opportunities for Batswana in education. The charitable organization has a vision to become a positive contributor to the socio-economic conditions of Batswana through availing opportunities for them to empower themselves.
The Ghodrati Foundation Scholarship is a partnership with New Era College of Arts Science and Technology, which seeks to provide financial aid in the form of a partial scholarship to students who did not obtain enough points when sitting for their BGCSE exams to earn a Botswana Government scholarship.
To be eligible for the scholarship, students must have a strong background in Mathematics and Science. The foundation will admit students who have obtained at least 30 points in their BGCSE with a credit in Mathematics and Science as well as a Pass in English.
Recipients of the Foundation will be provided with a partial scholarship towards their tuition fees, and their sponsor or parents will provide the remaining tuition fee. To date the scholarship has helped over 20 students successfully enroll in Engineering or Business Management courses.
The scholarship comes as a response to the Botswana Government’s call for more organizations to step up and share the burden of funding education in the country, which has for so long fallen solely on the Governments doorstep.
To date, the Ghodrati Foundation has helped change the lives of dozens of students by giving them scholarships that have admitted them into various programmes at New Era College. Some of these students have successfully managed to requalify for full sponsorship by the government after having the Ghodrati Foundation assist them as a bridgeway.
The Ghodrati Foundation launched the Sports Scholarship in 2020, with an aim to to attract and nurture high performing athletes to their full potential in higher education. The Sports Scholarship therefore provides an avenue and opportunity for athletes who lack the means to access higher education to complete a tertiary programme.
To date, the Ghodrati Foundation has awarded six young athletes in Botswana full scholarships to New Era College. The College is a member of BOTESSA and regularly sees its students being included as the top achievers in the country, a trend this new crop of athletes will hopefully continue on to Colleges medal vast count.
I developed my passion for sport during my high school days after seeing my former school mates being called up for the national athletics team, that gave me the inspiration and belief that I could also make it at the big stage. What I Love most about athletics is that it has taught me to have self-discipline and never to give up until the final whistle.
I believe sports can be a great contributor to Botswana in general through marketing the country and showcasing its athletes. The athlete that I most look up to, and one day hope to emulate is Akani Simbine, who is a South African sprinter that won the 2018 Commonwealth games. So far the highlight of my career is winning the Gaborone international Athletics meet in 2019.
Young students who wish to become sports stars in the future need to realize that sports careers are short lived and that they need to prepare early for life after sports. Having a fallback option will allow individuals to generate income for themselves. I am happy for the opportunity New Era College has granted me through this sports scholarship that provides me with financial aid for my tuition fees. This is an endeavor for which I will be forever grateful and will repay it tenfold through my performances on the sports field representing New Era College.
My sporting journey began as just a hobby, but once I started to become good, people took notice and advised me to take it more seriously, that’s when I developed a passion for running with the hopes of one day becoming professional. I want sports to be my primary profession as I believe it will offer a chance to diversify the country’s revenue sources as sports stars have very lucrative careers. Even though this is my first target I believe it is important to have an alternative option and I thank the Ghodrati foundation Scholarship for giving me that opportunity through studying with New Era College.
I choose to be a sportsman so I can see the world and be able to be a role model to the many upcoming athletes in Botswana that they can see it is possible to have a real career in sports. In the sporting arena I admire the world record holding American 400m hurdle runner Kevin Young. One day I wish to emulate his success. He taught me to always have a positive attitude in everything you do and grab every opportunity that comes your way.
The Department of Tertiary Education Financing (DTEF) a Government Department committed to ensuring equitable access to quality higher education for all Batswana.
With a mission to provide financial support, guidance, and resources to students pursuing tertiary education, the DTEF plays a vital role in facilitating academic aspirations and contributing to national development.
