How We Work

The core work of the FOM Scholarship Scheme is grouped according to four areas. These four areas are really the phases that a participant in the scheme goes through from the time he/she is a learner at high school, until the time he/she is an active community health profesional based at a rural hospital. For each student, the relationship with the FOM Scholarship Scheme takes place over a number of years:
Phase 1: Marketing & Selection
Phase 2: Student Support
Phase 3: Graduate Support
Phase 4: Hospital Working Groups

It starts with a visit from hospital staff (many graduates of the project themselves) to local high school learners in the subdistrict, where they talk about the different careers available in a hospital, as well the need to remain HIV negative. Grade 11 and 12 learners are invited to an open day at the local hospital, where they get to see what careers are available in the Health Sciences. Matric learners apply to university to study their choice of course, complete a FOM Scholarship Scheme application form, and then also volunteer at their local hospital during the December school holidays. As soon as the matric results are available, interviews are done with a selection committee comprising of hospital staff, community representatives and staff from the FOM Scholarship Scheme. Successful candidates then sign a year-for-year workback contract with FOM Scholarship Scheme, and head off to university. All university fees, accommodation and food, books, and equipment are paid for by the FOM Scholarship Scheme.

Whilst at university students are visited a few times a year by the FOM Scholarship Scheme Student Mentor, and also phoned regularly by hospital health professionals. Ex-students themselves, these young professionals understand the challenges of going from rural KZN to the 'big city' to study. The support afforded by these different people increases the chances of the students passing and progressing to the next year. With the support it is also easy to identify students who are struggling, and link them to on-site study specialists to ensure that they cope. An annual conference ('Imbizo') is held with all students to teach life-skills, and to include them in the 'FOM family'. During university holidays, students work at the hospitals and get paid an honorarium by the FOM Scholarship Scheme.

Once students graduate , most secure a post at the hospital which selected them at the beginning of their studies. If no post is available, graduates may apply for a post in any of the other hospitals within the district. Such is the dearth of health professionals in rural areas, that there are seldom no posts available! The graduate mentorship offered by the FOM Scholarship Scheme helps the graduates to navigate the difficult transition from student city-life to a junior post as a health professional at a district hospital. Whilst they may have the clinical knowledge, to be a successful health professional is often more about people skills than clinical ability, something not taught at university! The Graduate Mentor at the FOM Scholarship Scheme visits the young health professionals on site at the rural hospitals, and focusses on supporting them as they find creative solutions to solve the challenges they face, and become active in health care on a community level.

Scholarship Scheme Alumni form the backbone of the hospital Working Groups, having seen the benefit of the scheme in their own lives. Their enthusiasm keeps the project moving forward on a hospital level as described above.

A number of organisational support functions add value to this work, including:
Fundraising & marketing
Financial management
Research

Read more about How We Work:
About Us
Objectives of the Scholarship Scheme
Partnering with Hospital Working Groups