Make A Difference Leadership Foundation

Francois Pienaar and a group of like-minded individuals shared a vision to develop academically talented scholars with leadership potential into future leaders for South Africa. In order to realise this ambition, they formed MAD (Make A Difference) in 2003, to help transform South Africa - one scholar at a time. 12 years later, Make A Difference Leadership Foundation is still working hard to fulfill the shared vision of the founding members to Make A Difference in the lives of talented, young South Africans with leadership potential. Make A Difference Leadership Foundation (MAD Leadership Foundation) focuses on leadership development through education: the approach is to identify academically talented scholars, who do not have the necessary financial resources, and offer them support in the areas of education, leadership and life-skills development. We focus on leadership development through education, with the aim of identifying academically talented scholars who do not have the necessary financial resources, and offering them support in the areas of education, leadership and life skills development through the Individual Education Programme. We are focused on identifying and offering bursaries to academically talented young leaders, from grade 8 until completion of tertiary education, and covering all academic fees, mentoring, work experience, an annual Leadership Summit and more. We have always believed in the vast potential this beautiful country has. First and foremost we believe that real change will come from strong leaders and that their potential needs to be developed through education and mentorship. Our belief is that creating an alumnus of MAD Leadership Foundation Fellows - who are leaders across many different professions and who are educated, mentored and developed with a strong guiding value system – will make all the difference in South Africa.