Umthombo Youth Development Foundation (UYDF)

About Umthombo Youth Development Foundation

The Umthombo Youth Development Foundation (UYDF) is a non-profit organisation that started in 1999 in Ingwavuma, a rural part of northern KwaZulu-Natal. Today it is a registered public benefit organisation with its office in Hillcrest. Its aim is simple. It wants more qualified health professionals working in rural public hospitals.

The thinking behind the foundation is practical. Research shows that health workers are more likely to stay in rural areas when they grew up there. For that reason, UYDF looks for young people from rural communities and backs them through university. Recruiting from cities has often failed to fill rural posts, so this home-grown approach tackles a real gap.

How UYDF supports its students

UYDF offers far more than a bursary. Every scholar receives academic mentoring and social support, which helps them cope with the jump from a rural school to a large campus. The foundation also arranges holiday work at hospitals and helps graduates settle into the hospital workplace. According to its website, students can study towards 19 health science disciplines, including medicine, nursing, physiotherapy, dentistry and radiography.

The results are encouraging. The foundation reports more than 590 graduates to date, over 230 of whom are doctors, and it currently supports around 210 rural-origin students. Its work has earned recognition, such as the Mail & Guardian Investing in Health Award in 2016. Independent reviews of the programme also found that many graduates stayed in rural hospitals, even those without a contractual duty to do so.

What to know before applying

This is a focused programme, not a general funding scheme. UYDF selects students from the rural communities it serves, so applicants should first read the selection criteria in the Prospective students section of the official website. Students from other parts of the country are unlikely to qualify.

Scholars sign a work-back agreement. In return for support, they commit to serve at one of 15 hospitals in the Umkhanyakude, Zululand and King Cetshwayo districts after qualifying. As a result, you should be ready to live and work in a rural setting before you apply. Think carefully about that promise, because it shapes your first years as a professional.

Funding amounts, intake numbers and closing dates change from year to year, and they are not fixed here. Check the Umthombo website for the current cycle, the full list of disciplines and the documents you must submit. Start early, since selection usually involves more than a form. A strong academic record, a rural background and a real wish to serve your community all count in your favour.

If you are a parent or teacher of a rural learner with strong marks in Mathematics and Life Sciences, share the foundation's details early. Health science places are scarce, and good preparation in Grade 11 and 12 can make a real difference to a learner's chances.