13 September, 2018
The Graça Machel Trust has learnt with great disappointment of an alleged Graça Machel scholarship fund that has been run in Zimbabwe with letters signed by a Hopewell Chin’ono and dated 13 July 2018. The scam is being perpetrated by individuals that have misappropriated the name and logo of Mrs Graça Machel and the Graça Machel Trust to unsuspecting victims. We would like to inform members of the public, and stakeholders that this is not a Graça Machel Trust led initiative and we are investigating the source of the fraud.
The Trust would also like to state that:
- The Graça Machel Scholarship programme, launched in 2008, aims at increasing the visibility and influence of a new generation of highly qualified women. The programme provides an opportunity for women from rural and disadvantaged backgrounds to access postgraduate studies in a variety of areas ranging from science and technology, business and commerce to the humanities. This mandate clearly shows that our scholarship programme would thus not include scholarships to male beneficiaries as is stated in the letter that has been circulating.
- Beneficiaries of our scholarship programmes study predominantly at South African Universities and other leading continental universities thus the links with American universities implied in the letter is incorrect.
- The Trust is responsible for advertising and running the process for the selection, notification and placement of the beneficiaries of the scholarships. All information regarding the scholarship programmes is thus available on the Trust’s website and all communication to the female pan-African beneficiaries is given through our South Africa offices.
- Since its inception in 2008, the scholarship programme has supported close to 100 women to pursue postgraduate studies. The Trust has never at any one time issued such a huge number of scholarships to only one country as our aim is to ensure that scholarships are distributed fairly to disadvantaged women across the African continent.
- Hopewell Chino’ono is not an employee and has never been in the employ of, nor has he conducted business or been affiliated with the Trust, and thus does not have a mandate to speak on behalf of the Trust or to issue such letters or demand payment from individuals to facilitate them receiving Graça Machel scholarships.
- The Trust embarks on a rigorous selection process that includes verification of qualifications submitted in the applications we receive; hence we have never admitted any individual who holds fraudulent qualifications.
The Trust would like to apologize to any members of the public who have fallen victim to this scam. We advise members of the public revert to the Trust’s website www.gracamacheltrust.org to verify information regarding scholarships offered by the Trust, the programmes we run and how you can participate and engage with the Trust. The Trust will not be held responsible for any refunds of fees solicited by fraudsters purporting to act on its behalf.
ENDS
About the Graça Machel Trust
The Graça Machel Trust is an organisation that works across the continent to drive positive change across women’s and children’s rights, as well as governance and leadership. Through our support of local initiatives and connecting key stakeholders at a regional, national and sub-national level, we help to catalyse action where it is needed. By using our convening power the Trust seeks to: amplify the voices of women and children in Africa; influence governance; promote women’s contributions and leadership in the economic social and political development of Africa.
For more information, questions, and queries contact:
Communications Unit
Gwadamirai Majange: gwadmiraim@gracamacheltrust.org
Sarah Mpata: Sarahm@gracamacheltrust.org
Website: www.gracamacheltrust.org
Telephone: +27 (0) 11 325 0501/91
The Trust supports and mobilises civil society networks on issues of ending child marriage, ending violence against children, ending female genital mutilation and promoting children’s rights, to carry out advocacy and action across Africa. Special focus is placed on Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia where child marriage continues to be a problem largely driven by poverty, gender inequality, harmful traditional practices, conflict, low levels of literacy, limited opportunities for girls and weak or non-existent protective and preventive legal frameworks.
Education is a fundamental right for all children, which is also a vehicle for social, economic and political transformation in communities, countries and the African continent at large. Recent studies indicate a lack of progress in some of the critical commitments aimed at improving education quality, access, retention and achievement, particularly for girls. In most African countries, girls may face barriers to learning, especially when they reach post-primary levels of education. By implementing multi-dimensional approaches to education which includes core education, personal development, life skills and economic competencies, the Trust partners with funding partners, governments, civil societies and the private sector to improve education access.
The Nutrition and Reproductive, Maternal, New-born, Child and Adolescent Health and Nutrition, (RMNCAH+N) of the Children’s Rights and Development Programme aims at promoting the Global Strategy for women, children and adolescents’ health within the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) agenda. The strategy emphasises on the importance of effective country leadership as a common factor across countries making progress in improving the health of women, children and adolescents.
Through its Early Childhood Development (ECD) plan, The Trust will seek to put into action the new science and evidence Report that was presented by Lancet Series on Good and early development – the right of every child. This will be achieved by mobilising like-minded partners to contribute in the new science and evidence to reach all young children with ECD. The Trust’s goal is to be a catalyst for doing things differently, in particular, to rid fragmentation and lack of coordination across ECD sectors. In response to evidence showing the importance of political will in turning the tide against the current poor access and quality of ECD. Even before conception, starting with a mother’s health and social economic conditions, the early years of a child’s life form a fundamental foundation that determines whether a child will survive and thrive optimally.