Kestrel Education Trust

Education lays the foundation of a stronger nation by building the individual’s character. It enriches a person’s understanding of themselves and their place in their community. 

At Kestrel, we pride ourselves on our ability to work together as a team in the best interests of our clients, putting strategic plans in place and empowering individuals to guide them towards the highest levels of service excellence. Individual commitment to a group effort is the basis of a winning formula and we would like to thank you for your continued support of the Kestrel team. 

Kestrel Education Trust | Orphan Education
Twins, Yolisa and Yonwaba’s mother died when they were just a year old.  They are now cared for by their grandmother who is a domestic worker in a small town in South Africa. Kestrel Business Solutions provides funding for their education and expenses to ensure they have a chance of employment in the future.

When the twins were four, they attended ‘Flossies’ a well known local preschool, they are fortunate to have a Xhosa teacher so they will be learning to speak English in earnest and 'Flossies' provides an excellent foundation for learning as it is a widely accepted preparation school for Graham College, which itself, is acknowledged as one of the best public schools in South Africa.  

The boys are very boisterous and fun loving and anything involving a ball is a hit!  They are inseparable and always defend each other – in fact you can never give one anything without him asking where his brother’s is...

If you would like to contribute towards the twins and their education, please contact Robyn Anders. 

2020
Reach for the Stars!
As the world welcomes a new decade filled with optimism and positivity, Yonwaba and Yolisa are heading off to their first year of high school in Grahamstown. They are excited about embarking on the next stage of their journey towards adulthood. At 15 years old, they are mature, hopeful and dreaming of a future filled with opportunities that they might not have had without your valued and continued support.

Although initially the odds were stacked against them, both boys have identified their strengths and are focused on the skills that reflect their hopes and dreams for the future.

Looking back over the years and taking a moment to consider the obstacles they have overcome, we are proud of their achievements; they have grown into sporty, outgoing and responsible teenagers filled with enthusiasm, passion and a willingness to put in the work needed to get the job done.

Leo Burnett, who is widely recognised as one of the 100 most influential people of the 20th century once said:

"When you reach for the stars, you may not quite get them, but you won't come up with a handful of mud either."

So in the spirit of the new era of possibility, may you be fearless and hopeful on your journey through 2020 to the stars.

Carol Cuthbert
and the team at Kestrel Business Solutions

2019
A boat doesn't move forward if each one is paddling their own way. 
Swahili Proverb

Much like life, the ability to paddle in any conditions; wind, rain and strong currents, is absolutely essential in order to become a champion but it is not something that you do alone, teamwork is vital and your dreams of crossing the finish line in first place requires dedication and a shared strategy. Paddling is the ultimate team sport - You win together and lose together.

Although Yolisa and Yonwaba are each carving their own path and creating their own dreams for the future, both have clear goals that are driven by their positive attitude, co-operation with their teachers and other learners that despite the hardships of township life has reinforced their sense of belonging and fellowship with others. Having overcome challenging obstacles while negotiating everyday township life, the twins have their sights set on becoming a doctor and lawyer respectively and Kestrel continues to support them in realising their dreams by giving them the tools to set their own goals and encouraging the boys to explore their own identities and interests.

At Kestrel, we pride ourselves on our ability to work together as a team in the best interests of our clients, putting strategic plans in place and empowering individuals to guide them towards the highest levels of service excellence.

Individual commitment to a group effort is the basis of a winning formula and we would like to thank you for your continued support of the Kestrel team.

Wishing you a successful and prosperous 2019.

Carol Cuthbert
and the team at Kestrel Business Solutions

2016
It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves. William Shakespeare.

In South Africa’s history, we have experienced how the lack of education has led to poverty and hardship for many and without your support, we are sure that Yolisa and Yonwaba would not have had the opportunity to rise above their impoverished beginnings.

These two young boys, now aged ten, are a shining beacon of hope for the future of South Africa. They have been given the tools to reach deep inside themselves and aspire to a better life. The boys have performed extraordinarily well this year during a period in South Africa where many schools and universities have been protesting and disrupting classes. It is a privilege that they can continue their education, made possible by yourselves, when the rest of the schools have overcrowded classrooms, and a shortage of textbooks and teachers. Yonwaba wants to become a lawyer and Yolisa wants to be a politician.

We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude for the confidence that you have placed in Kestrel Business Solutions thus allowing us to help to grow future leaders from the previously disadvantaged communities of South Africa.

Yolisa and Yonwaba would like to thank you for your generous support and faith in them. The team at Kestrel Business Solutions wishes you all a very happy and peaceful festive season and we look forward to continuing to provide excellent service in 2016.

Thank you for your continued support.
Carol Cuthbert
and the team at Kestrel Business Solutions

2015
The more you read, the more things that you'll know..
Education lays the foundation of a stronger nation by building the individual’s character. It enriches a person’s understanding of themselves and their place in their community. 

It is an investment in human capital which ultimately has a great impact on a nation’s growth and development. By providing a child with a good education we pave the way to a future filled with promise, not only for the child but for society as a whole.

In South Africa’s history, we have experienced how the lack of education has led to poverty and hardship for many and without your support, we are sure that Yolisa and Yonwaba would not have had the opportunity to rise above their impoverished beginnings.

These two young boys, now aged nine, are a shining beacon of hope for the future of South Africa. They have been given the tools to reach deep inside themselves and aspire to a better life. The boys have performed extraordinarily well this year and are achieving impressive results; often being in the top 30 percentile of the class. Although they are keen sportsmen, playing both cricket and tennis, they always make time for their studies and both have shown remarkable improvement in English as well as maths, although they tell us that maths is definitely their most favourite subject at the moment.

The more we learn, the more questions we have... Without questions, there are no answers. Education teaches us to seek answers within ourselves and by making us more self-aware, we are able to envisage a future filled with adventure, dreams and exciting prospects.

We would like to express our gratitude for the confidence that you have placed in Kestrel Business Solutions thus allowing us to help to grow future leaders from the previously disadvantaged communities of South Africa.

Yolisa and Yonwaba would like to thank you for your generous support and faith in them. The team at Kestrel Business Solutions wishes you all a very happy and peaceful festive season and we look forward to continuing to provide excellent service in 2015.

Thank you for your continued support.
Carol Cuthbert
and the team at Kestrel Business Solutions


2013
Is tennis, or sport in general, really a metaphor for life?
"Tennis is mostly mental. Of course, you must have a lot of physical skill, but you can't play tennis well and not be a good thinker. You win or lose the match before you even go out there..."
Venus Williams - Wimbledon Champion (2000, 2001, 2005, 2007 and 2008)

As many of our colleagues are aware, Carol Cuthbert, Director of Kestrel Business Solutions, is passionate about tennis and it seems she has succeeded in passing her passion for sports and physical activity on to Yonwabe and Yolisa, who are equally determined to excel on the playing field as in art studio and the classroom. 

Sometimes, the best you can hope for is to throw it all on the line, give it your all, and trust that you have done enough to achieve your aspirations both in life and the sports arena. The pursuit of excellence should involve fun… and lots of it. If you’re not taking yourself too seriously, it is easy to laugh when you make silly mistakes. And having fun is what keeps you coming back. Interestingly enough, people often play better and achieve more when they’re not taking themselves too seriously anyway.

Yolisa and Yonwabe love to laugh and for them it doesn't really matter if the end result is winning or losing. And in life it often doesn't matter either - the effort and intensity you bring is what ultimately determines whether you’ll be standing on the winner’s podium… 

Tennis is a mind game involving strategy, skill and perseverance. You have to work hard, be strong, nimble and flexible – you have to know the playing field and how to get the most out of every move – all of these will make you a skilled player in life, business and sport but the most important attribute is to believe in yourself, your abilities and to focus on your goals. 

As Richard Bach said "Sooner or later, those who win are those who think they can."

Your support has made it possible for the Kestrel Education Trust to provide orphaned South African twins, Yolisa and Yonwabe with a sound education, stationery as well as daily meals. We would like to express our gratitude for the confidence that you have placed in Kestrel Business Solutions thus allowing us to help to grow future leaders from the previously disadvantaged communities of South Africa. 

At Kestrel, we believe that the combination of education, hope and opportunity can inspire children to rise above poverty and hardship not only for their own benefit but for the benefit of others too... So as 2013 draws to a close, we would like to wish you a safe, happy festive season and may the year ahead be filled with peace and prosperity for you and your loved ones. And perhaps you might find the time to play a game of tennis...

Thank you for your continued support.
Carol Cuthbert
and the team at Kestrel Business Solutions

2009
Wisdom is like a Baobab Tree; no one individual can embrace it...
The Baobab, known as Africa's tree of wisdom & life is not beautiful but has inspired poetry & legends & is considered to be the quintessential African tree - the embodiment of wisdom, longevity, health & life. 

Your support has made it possible for the Kestrel Education Trust to provide orphaned South African twins, Yolisa and Yonwabe with a sound education, stationery as well as daily meals. We would like to express our gratitude for the confidence that you have placed in Kestrel Business Solutions thus allowing us to help to grow future leaders from the previously disadvantaged communities of  South Africa.

Yolisa & Yonwabe are the first recipients of the Kestrel Education Trust and just as the African baobab provides shelter and protection for many African villagers, we hope that our contribution will enhance these and other children's opportunities in the future.