For this reason, DAR will lead a project to renovate a building in Banghoek Road, tentatively named The Phumelela Centre, which means "to succeed" in isiZulu.

"Scholarship donors are generous and caring people who unselfishly give to support the educational endeavours of students. We know that we need to improve our offering to these important donors," says Karen Bruns, DAR’s Senior Director.

The purpose of this building will be to provide a space for individual student meetings or interviews, a gathering space for social engagements between bursars and donors, as well as a training area.

A part of this space will be utilised by the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation (MSDF), a US-based funder which funds and steers sizable bursary programmes at UCT and UP, and at Stellenbosch University since 2020 in the form of the Dell Young Leaders programme.

The MSDF grant not only provides funds for bursary support to students, but also for a comprehensive wrap-around programme to ensure student success. Also included in the grant is provision to establish a suitable operations space to conduct the programme, to house staff appointments and contracted facilitators to run the programme and liaise with stakeholders, and to be an on-campus resource for students in the programme.

"As DAR, we are required to support similar bursary programmes that require meeting and facilitation space for engagement with their students. These include the Moshal Foundation, the Crossley Foundation, Allan Gray Orbis Foundation, Students for a Better Future, and the Tomorrow Trust, to name but a few," explains Bruns.

"When we received R2,1 million from the Metje Trust in addition to the MSDF contribution for the creation of this space, we took the leap of faith in creating a centre where our donors can meet with, workshop with, or train their students, host hybrid briefings, and the like.

"The renovated space will assist the University in providing a better service to our large donors and acknowledges the welfare and dignity of our students by offering holistic support."

The Centre will include office space, consultation rooms, roaming workspaces for visiting students and staff, a conversation and breakaway area, and a meeting room for 12 to 14 people.