THE Baker Hughes Foundation has continued Baker Hughes’ support for South African youth by awarding a grant of $30 000 (approx. R550 000) to Feenix, A Public Benefit Organisation, established in 2017 in response to South Africa’s #FeesMustFall movement, aiming to bridge the financial gap in tertiary education.
As a tech-enabled crowdfunding platform, Feenix connects students at high risk of financial exclusion with individual and corporate donors through Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives, as well as Skills Development Bursary Programmes, enable them to fundraise for their outstanding academic fees while providing wraparound support services to ensure student success, graduation, and economic mobility.
In many ways, the story of Feenix’s bursary programme cannot be told without mentioning Baker Hughes.
The relationship between Feenix and Baker Hughes began in 2018. Baker Hughes seeks meaningful ways to contribute to youth development and transformation across the globe. Feenix, in turn, was evolving its model and exploring how to connect with corporate funders to extend its reach. In Baker Hughes, they found not just a funder, but a partner, one willing to pioneer a bursary programme rooted in purpose, structure, and long-term impact.
What followed was the co-creation of Feenix’s first formal bursary programme. It became a blueprint for student support that included student selection, mentoring, tracking outcomes, and building a shared cohort of resilient young people.
Between 2019 and 2022, the collaboration supported 86 students at 20 public universities and relieved more than R4 million in student debt. By the end of 2023, 89% of Baker Hughes-funded graduates had moved beyond the NEET (Not in Employment, Education or Training) label. Many had not only found work but were also paying it forward.
Their names tell a bigger story. Young people like Siyabonga, who is now an Engineer in Training at Transnet. Musa, whose qualifications opened doors in the telecommunications industry, and Ntombikayise “Ntombi” Bhengu, whose Feenix-funded academic journey culminated in a master’s degree, a leadership role at P&G, and the launch of a literacy business transforming childhood learning. Proof that the ripple effect of access extends far beyond the lecture hall.
This next chapter, through support from the Baker Hughes Foundation, is not a beginning; it’s a continuation of a commitment. Previously, Baker Hughes supported Feenix through skills development funding. This grant will help enable Feenix to scale operations.
Simo-Sihle Mvinjelwa, Baker Hughes SSA Region Transformation, Diversity and Belonging Leader, has been closely involved with the Feenix partnership since its early days, recognising the platform’s potential to drive lasting change in South Africa’s education landscape.
Reflecting on the continued collaboration, Mvinjelwa shared: “At Baker Hughes, we’re committed to contributing to communities by sharing our time, talent, and resources to help solve some of humanity’s biggest challenges. Education and opportunity are central to that mission. Our continued support of Feenix reflects our belief in scalable, tech-driven solutions that open doors for young South Africans. Through this partnership, we’re proud to help create more equitable access to higher education, taking a powerful step toward a more inclusive future.”
Feenix CEO, Cara-Jean Petersen, shares what this means for the organisation: “This grant from the Baker Hughes Foundation represents so much more than financial support; it’s a deliberate investment in our capacity to innovate. It gives our team the breathing room and backing to explore what’s possible: to enhance our technology, reach more students through deeper engagement, and strengthen our fundraising capacity by bringing more co-creative partners into our ecosystem. With this support, we can turn ideas into action, scale our impact, and continue building a future where access to education is not dependent on wealth”
The Baker Hughes Foundation joins a growing list of partners who recognise that access to education is a catalyst for social mobility, economic growth, and generational progress. “We are excited for the opportunity to grow our relationships with the global giving team, and we look forward to the impact that we are going to be able to make in the coming months,” adds Cara-Jean.
For more information: https://www.feenix.org/
