The Tuks Leadership and Individual Programme (TULIP) hosted a gala dinner recently in celebration of its three years of transforming the lives of learners and creating awareness of this initiative. This event was held at the Prinshof Campus and included a sit-down dinner, a fundraising auction and an engaging programme featuring a presentation on TULIP’s growth through the years, as well as a cash bar for donations.

This young organisation is a student-run non-profit organisation that works with four underprivileged schools situated in Pretoria, facilitating a holistic development programme for the top students of each school, with its primary goal being to get as many as possible of these underprivileged learners into a tertiary institution. 

According to Professor Tawana Kupe, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of UP, “The TULIP initiative is that a student-driven programme can make a difference in advancing educational opportunities for learners in disadvantaged communities. The University will use its resources to make some facilities available where needed and to publicise the initiatives so they can be supported by South Africans more broadly.”

TULIP strives to develop learners on a holistic level in order for them to develop the skills they need to get to and through tertiary education. The initiative has a five-tier programme that will develop and support learners during their entire high school career. The five areas of development that the organisation focuses on are: Leadership Development and Mentorship, Academic Support and Tutoring, Financial education and Bursary support, Human Development, as well as Application support.

Attendees with Prof Tawana Kupe during the event 

“Assistance from the University at large could help us immensely in growing our organisation through publicity as this would put us in touch with like-minded individuals across the country. We are also continually improving our tutoring curriculum, and the specialist knowledge of higher education specialists will add to the efficacy of our programme. The university also supports us financially as it does all societies, and all additional fundraising that we do to keep our organisation sustainable will benefit from added recognition on a university level. Also, the presence of the Vice-Chancellor during the event was a great honour and privilege, we are grateful,” said TULIP Chairperson, Lielie Viljoen.

The aim of the gala dinner was to showcase and to celebrate the first three years of TULIP's existence and the 38 successful TULIP learners admitted into tertiary education. TULIP hopes that this awareness will attract and encourage people and potential donors to come forward and support this organisation’s cause through its "adopt-a-tulip" initiative or various drives throughout the year.

Click here for more information about TULIP.