The vision of eight dentists who realised that they were only stronger together , not just for themselves but for like-minded people , led to the creation of a permanent endowment for South African professionals .
In 2023 , PPS members funded 70 young people with incredible potential to achieve an education and join the exclusive community of graduate professionals . Thousands of other aspiring professionals were reached around the country through PPS ’ s money matters and work readiness programme , which equips students with complementary skills to their academic studies . Supporting young people unlocks their potential and grows their talent , which in turn grows the economy and creates more opportunities for personal and societal growth .
It is essential to understand that business is not disconnected from society but a contributor . Doing the right thing , even when it is hard , is critical . The infinite potential that lies in the network of PPS members is what our eight founding fathers had envisioned . Senior members mentor early career professionals – not only in their respective crafts – but also in sharing the lessons they have learned along the way .
Perhaps the most evident expression of the elegance of the mutual model is how PPS members who decided to participate in the Healthy Weigh Challenge to improve their health and well-being could fund a student for a year from their collective contributions . That is impact ; when scaled up , it could chip away at many seemingly insurmountable challenges .
My personal favourite of PPS ’ s initiatives has to be Cultivating Tomorrow ’ s Professionals , an employee volunteerism programme whose focus is to help high-potential learners from under-resourced schools improve their chances of success in high school . Grade 11 and 12 learners are given maths enrichment classes and access to cutting-edge digital tools such as Advantage Learn to help them prepare for their matric final exams . In addition to academic support , the programme also offers valuable life experiences through guest speakers who share their personal stories , fields of study and career paths . Representation truly matters and having diverse individuals share their experiences is crucial .
Watching the Group CEO share his love of mathematics and teach wide-eyed learners about Pascal ’ s triangle and the poetry of the golden ratio is a marvel . In an instant , you experience the fear of mathematics evaporating as the love for it begins to grow . Perhaps it was not an accident that our founding fathers chose the mutual model ; it was the numerical poetry of the infinite game .
Ayanda Seboni
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