Think about the last R100 you spent.

Was the blue note traded for a bottle of your favourite coffee? Movie ticket and popcorn? Can’t remember?

We often don’t give a passing thought to the money we spend during the week – and don’t even realise that just a small slice of everyday conveniences can influence whether a student graduates or is forced to abandon their studies.

A student like Tiny Maake – currently enrolled for a Final Year Bachelor of Education– who almost dropped out due to lack of funding last year.

Despite being a top performing student at the University of Pretoria (UP), she was unable to pay her outstanding fees at the end of 2014 – and was anxious because she didn’t want to have to abort her studies.

“Living in rural areas is usually perceived as a barrier to one’s success,” says Tiny. “However, I also benefit from having experienced the other side of the spectrum.  Having been born and raised in a rural area equipped me to become more independent, determined, resilient, and ambitious.”

Without the top-up bursary she received from the Tuks Scholarship Fund, an initiative established by UP Vice-Chancellor, Professor Cheryl de la Rey, Tiny would be a university drop-out statistic.

In 2014, a total of 33 students received top-up bursaries, across a range of academic programmes. “With over 63 000 students registered at the University of Pretoria – and over R800 000 million annually going into student support – the need is great,” says Cheryl Benadie, Senior Development Officer at the University of Pretoria.

“We launched the #100InAMillion campaign to invite UP alumni and friends of the University to give R100 each month towards stellar students such as Tiny Maake. If 1 000 people, which represents just 0.5% of our alumni network, gave R100 each month, the University could rely on additional support of R1 000 000 to ensure that our students reach the finish line.”

Now that she can continue along her path of success, Tiny is ecstatic!

“I believe I have the potential to impact, change, improve and reconceptualise different social, economic, physical, political and cultural issues pertaining to our country,” says this determined student.

Since the start of her academic career at UP, Tiny has obtained a long list of achievements, including being among the Top 10 students in Lilium Residence in 2012, Top 10 in 2013, awarded a Tuks Achievement Bursary, awarded a prestige award for being the 2013 Mentor of the Year. She also graduated as a participant of the Golden Key Honorary Society and was also awarded a Tuks Achievement Bursary for 2014. Currently, she is the Head Mentor for Lilium Residence and Tutor for Sepedi.

We believe that students like Tiny, who are hard workers and are passionate about positively impacting the future of our country – deserve our support. If you would like to support others like Tiny, download the debit order form (http://goo.gl/36Z2L1) and donate today. Like our Facebook page www.facebook.com/100inamillion to keep up to date with the latest developments on the Fund.

We can change the future – one graduate at a time!