Feenix was launched in June 2017 as a response to the #FeesMustFall movement that spread across campuses in South Africa in 2015 and 2016. This movement highlighted the high cost of tertiary education and the impact that financial stress has on a students’ success rates. Since its launch in 2017, over 1181 students have raised over R39 Million towards their fundraising goals by sharing their Feenix profiles – through which they promote and position themselves to potential funders – via social media, WhatsApp and email.
“By learning how to create and share their fundraising profile, students acquire critical soft skills and own their narratives. Individuals or businesses who join the Feenix community can be assured that they will be investing in students who are willing to do what it takes to be successful,” says Cara-Jean Petersen, Feenix student engagement manager.
For example, Lebohang – a 4th-year medical student at Stellenbosch University and the first of his family to obtain a matric certificate and gain admission to a higher-education institution – writes:
“I am a very hard-working and hopeful individual despite my humble background. I chose to study medicine because of my burning desire and passion to make a difference and the lack of access to healthcare experienced every day by people in my hometown of Phuthaditjhaba in the Free State and South Africa as a whole. I may not be able to solve all the problems that we are faced with but the prospect of being part of the solution excites me.”
Over the past few years, a total of 25 Stellenbosch University students have been funded with R965 375 paid to the university. Funds disbursed to each university is dependent on the success of each student's fundraising efforts and corporate donations allocated to students. The highest university recipient to date has received R15 317 170, which has funded 369 students.
Feenix caters for postgraduate students, those who need to clear student debt to graduate, and students from the “missing” middle that come from homes with a combined household income of between R350 000-R600 000 per annum. These students are considered ‘not poor enough for NSFAS, but not rich enough to afford tertiary education’.
Interested funders can identify students they wish to support on the Feenix platform. By doing so, they are enabling students to grow their community beyond the students’ geographical location and immediate networks and communities.
“This is our opportunity to rally together to find and support resilient university students so that we can address the current education funding crisis. Statistics show that individuals with degrees are more likely to be employed and funders can play their part in ensuring that young South Africans graduate debt-free,” explains Cara-Jean.
All bona fide donations are eligible for tax benefits and all funds raised are paid directly to the universities, so there is no opportunity for students to use funds for anything else than its intended purpose. Feenix is also an effective channel for corporate funders to spend skills development and socio-economic development funds.
Due to the current COVID-19 situation, Feenix’s operations will, for the next twelve weeks, be prioritising the sourcing of and fundraising for laptops, food and data, verifying students in need, finding distribution partners and distributing these resources to students who will then be able to continue their studies.