About the Waitrose Foundation in Southern Africa
Waitrose Foundation Southern Africa (WFSA) is the community investment arm linked to Waitrose, the British supermarket chain. The Foundation began in 2005 with South African citrus growers, and avocados followed in 2006. Its purpose is to improve life for the farm workers who grow and pack the fruit and vegetables that Waitrose sells.
Today the Foundation works across Southern Africa, including South Africa, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Early projects included literacy classes, computer training, life skills and craft classes. The craft classes let workers earn extra income in the off-season, when farms have less work.
How WFSA supports students
The WFSA bursary is part of the same mission. It is not a general bursary open to everyone. Only permanent employees of growers in the Waitrose supply chain, and their children or legal wards, can apply. The household must also fall within the minimum wage income bracket.
The bursary supports undergraduate study in five broad areas. These are agrisciences, business sciences (such as commerce, logistics and retail), community health and social sciences, education, and medicine and health sciences. Students may study at a recognised university or TVET college in South Africa, Namibia, Zambia or Zimbabwe.
No formal work-back obligation is attached. The bursary is a benefit that rewards a family's link to the supply chain. It is not a recruitment contract with Waitrose. Graduates are therefore free to follow their own career path.
Fresh produce supply chains rely on seasonal and permanent workers, and many of their families have limited access to higher education. The Foundation works through committees at each farm, where workers decide how community funds are used. Education is a recurring priority, because a degree can change a family's future in one generation. The bursary turns that priority into a concrete opportunity for the next generation.
What to know before applying
First, confirm that your employer, or your parent's employer, is a grower in the Waitrose supply chain. If you are unsure, ask your human resources office or your farm manager. Without that link, the application will not succeed.
Applicants request an application form from the Foundation by email. The subject line should read "WFSA Bursary Application". Expect to supply a copy of your ID, recent academic results, proof of acceptance at a tertiary institution and proof of employment in the supply chain.
Closing dates change from year to year. The 2027 intake had a closing date in early October 2026, but later intakes may differ. Always check with the Foundation for the current date and the exact documents it requires before you apply.
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