Freedom Trail Foundation Call for Applications for Scholarship at Mariazell High School

FREEDOM CHALLENGE SCHOLARSHIP CALL FOR APPLICATIONS – MARIAZELL HIGH SCHOOL

Every year, for the past 22 years, a number of people carrying backpacks and riding mountain bikes have passed through the area in which your school is located. They have been part of an initiative known as the Freedom Challenge which sees participants riding their bicycles from Pietermaritzburg through to Cape Town along a continuous route that we have called the Freedom Trail. A part of this trail runs from Taylerville, Sibi, Masakala, St Paul, towards Matatiele and then on through the villages of Mpharane, Thaba Chitja, Tinana and Vuvu before heading up the Maluti Drakensberg Mountains to Rhodes.
As an organisation the Freedom Challenge endeavours to utilise local service providers and to the community orientated accommodation facilities. We believe this has been of significant benefit to the communities along the trail. It has also exposed the riders to the hospitality of the people living in these areas. Over the years many of the participants in the Freedom Challenge have been extremely moved by the warmth and generosity of the people on this section of the trail and have asked the Freedom Challenge to suggest ways in which they can make a meaningful contribution as a way of thanking those very communities for their hospitality. This has resulted in the formation of the Freedom Challenge Scholarship Fund and the granting of scholarships to learners from schools located along the route that the riders follow.
The Freedom Challenge Scholarship Fund provides the following scholarships:
• Scholarships are for study at the Mariazell High School;
• Each scholarship will cover full tuition fees, all boarding fees, books and uniform;
• At the end of each academic year successful candidates will have to display academic achievement at Mariazell as well as be in good standing with the school. Failure to comply with either one of these conditions will result in the scholarship being revoked. You are invited to recommend any deserving candidates from your school. When recommending a candidate please bear the following in mind:
Prospective candidates should be persons of promise. Whilst academic potential is an important aspect of the selection process, they should also embody the true spirit of Ubuntu and Respect during the 3&5 years period;
Prospective candidates will not be currently registered as learners at Mariazell.
Prospective candidates will be required to attend Mariazell as boarders for a 3 year period to complete Grades 10, 11 and 12. And for 5 years to (Grade 8- 12)

Prospective candidates will need to successfully complete Grade 7 and 9 at the end of this year;
Prospective candidates will need to meet the admission requirements of the Mariazell High School
Prospective candidates will also have to meet the requirements of a selection panel established by the Freedom Trail Foundation.
Prospective canditates must atleast be studying at his/her school for the past 4 yrs.

Requirements: Grade 7 or 9 academic report (June)
Student/s biography written by a student
Copy of a birth certificate
Motivational letter from the Principal/Class Teacher with a School Stamp.

Please forward the details of potential candidates to:
Freedom Challenge Scholarship Fund c/o Tsepo Lesholu Mehloding Community Tourism Trust Museum Building, 94 High Street Matatiele 4730 Tel / Fax (039) 737 3289
We look forward to working with you in developing the promise of the area.

Yours sincerely

FREEDOM TRAIL FOUNDATION
Allen Sharp

Closing date for submission: 29 August 2025, 15h00.