About us — Canon Collins Trust

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Hlengiwe Ndlovu

For one more African child, for one more black womxn who has been considered to be “a risk” for funding – I am humbled by your unwavering support! For one more African child, long live @CanonCollins long live! I did it because you believed in me, I am because you are.

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Frank Mgungwe

@CanonCollins Happiness has overwhelmed me for the Canon Collins Scholarship Offer to study Law at the University of London. I am delighted to have now joined a team of academic scholars from Southern Africa and to contribute to the change we greatly need. I thank @CanonCollins

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Nyaradzo Nhongonhema

Ever walked into a room that literally smelled of ‘PURPOSE’ … I did! Got to be a quiz mistress & facilitate a session with my all time partner in crime Princess Star Sibanda! Nothing could be more fulfilling! Thank you @CanonCollins for trusting & believing in me, us!

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Pretty Mubaiwa

I respect @CanonCollins for being at the forefront of activism and social justice issues on the continent. Uplifting future leaders through scholarship is an invaluable contribution to building the future we all envisage and deserve!

What We Do

Education

Higher education is transformative for society and Southern Africa’s development depends on strong leadership in key fields. Yet while the benefits of higher education continue to rise, the costs of being left behind are also growing. The underfunding of postgraduate studies has become a looming crisis and a major impediment to transformation. This is why we have supported over 4,000 individuals whose education addresses some of the most pressing issues in contemporary southern African society.

On top of a strong academic record and a passion for research, our scholars must demonstrate their commitment to employing their skillsets to achieve impact. Learning and collaboration between scholars, activists and civil society organisations are intentionally fostered, both during and after the scholarship experience. Our focus on education also extends to access to primary and secondary schooling. Through support of our partner Equal Education, the Trust advocates for quality and equality in the South African education system.

Education

Human Rights

Our work is underpinned by a spirit of solidarity rooted in our history in the anti-apartheid struggle. Our partnerships with the Legal Resources Centre, Equal Education and others help to empower some of South Africa’s most marginalised communities. We value our partnerships extremely highly, as a mutually beneficial relationship of solidarity. We remain accountable to each other, promising transparency and fairness in our dealings with each other, and learning from each other’s work.

We are committed to contributing towards a new framework for human rights in southern Africa by supporting our scholars and alumni to form strong networks in government and civil society. We do this through our international events programme, which brings together our scholars, alumni and civil society partners to discuss issues pertaining to human rights and social justice. Our partnerships enable our scholars to interact with key change agents in South African civil society, whilst relating their work to achieving impact for some of the most marginalised and excluded citizens.

Human Rights

Our Commitment

Accountability

We are committed to ensuring accountability to our stakeholders and being guided by our policies as we support our partners’ programme administration and administer our own scholarships. The Canon Collins Trust values its partnerships with civil society organisations in South Africa extremely highly, as a mutually beneficial relationship of solidarity, or a partnership of equals. Any funding we manage to raise for our partners’ work does not change this dynamic. We remain accountable to each other, promising transparency and fairness in our dealings with each other, and learning from each other’s work.

Accountability

Our Values

Values

Agency

The energy created by the community we foster makes our collective quest for social justice so much stronger. It is the power of individual effort – the individual who is affirmed to make the most of their zeal, their talents and their own sense of self-efficacy.

Values

Collaboration

If you want to go fast go alone; if you want to go far, go together.

Values

Fairness

A sense of fairness underlies everything we do and strive for. Motivated by fairness we seek to ensure, both internally and externally, that no circumstance of life will hinder individual ability. To be fair is to consider all voices and narratives.

Values

Learning

We value learning as a tool for social change and personal and organisational improvement. A society that values ongoing and lifelong learning is an open society. We want to model that in what we do, and in the impact we have.

Values

Solidarity

With our roots in the anti-apartheid struggle, we stand shoulder to shoulder with southern Africans who continue to be oppressed or denied their rights, in order to ensure freedom and equality; knowing that freedom for one is not possible until there is freedom for all.

What We Do

Education

Human Rights

Our Commitment

Accountability

Our Values

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