The demanding academic environment at the University of Pretoria (UP) requires Scholars to be well-rounded and resilient to achieve their goals. Especially from a research perspective, the journey of knowledge creation can be isolating but in the end highly rewarding.

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UP is aware of the importance of cultivating leaders that are capable of nurturing their psychosocial needs. This through the resident counselling psychologist on the Program.

In addition, Solid Minds, a partner organisation to the Program, provides evidence based psychological services to individuals and teams through capacity building, training and supervision. A team of four representatives visited UP on 25-26 April.

The first day was dedicated to working with the Program team at UP who are front facing with the Mastercard Foundation Scholars and Alumni. On the other hand, the second day was dedicated to the Scholars who went through the student wellness programme offered by Solid Minds.

Yeukai Pedzisa, a Master's candidate in Social Work, shared her experience: "The training by Solid Minds felt like a safe space to talk about mental health issues. The session was interesting, insightful, and eye-opening."

By prioritising mental health and providing comprehensive support services, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UP empowers Scholars to thrive in their academic pursuits and navigate the challenges of university life with greater resilience.