Students for a Better Future (SBF)

About Students for a Better Future

Students for a Better Future (SBF) is a Cape Town scholarship programme. It is sponsored by the Andreas and Susan Struengmann Foundation. The idea began when Susan Struengmann, who was born in South Africa, and her husband Dr Andreas Struengmann saw the gaps in education while working in the Eastern Cape. They promised to help more young people reach quality schooling once they were able to.

SBF does not fund university degrees directly. It focuses on gifted learners from financially disadvantaged homes and walks with them from primary school into their first jobs. Its motto is that it does not just find extraordinary young minds, it helps shape them.

How SBF supports scholars

The journey has several stages. First, learners apply while in Grade 6. More than 1,000 children usually apply, and about 60 are chosen. Next comes a seven-month preparation programme in Grade 7, called Prep Pathfinders. It builds friendships, enriches learning and eases the move to high school.

Scholars then attend one of more than a dozen partner schools in Cape Town for Grades 8 to 12. These include well-known public schools such as Rondebosch, Westerford, Herschel and Wynberg. Across the high school years, SBF provides academic help, power skills training and wellness support.

After matric, scholars join the SASLI programme. This three-year stage focuses on power skills and helps young people find a first job. A few laureates later return as interns and peer leaders. The network now counts more than 450 alumni working in professional roles.

What to know before applying

SBF is a school scholarship, so the applicant is the learner and the family applies in Grade 6. Applications have opened around 22 July each year and closed around 22 August. Check the official website for the current dates, as these can shift.

The programme looks for strong academic potential. It also looks for financial need. Specific marks are not listed on the homepage, so read the entry guidelines carefully for details on household income and school reports.

Because competition is tough, prepare early. Gather recent school reports and any documents the guidelines list. Parents should also talk to their child about the long commitment, since support lasts for many years. Finally, remember that the number of places is small, so a strong application matters.

The programme also sets out clear values. It names impact, growth, dreaming, learning, care and fun as the ideas that guide its work. At the latest update, about 269 scholars were in high school, 55 were in the preparatory year and roughly 100 were in the post-matric stage. These figures show a pipeline that stays with young people for well over a decade.