The JP Karuaihe Trust Fund is an organisation that financially assists underprivileged students pursuing law studies.

It has sponsored over 90 alumni, some of whom have successfully opened their own law firms, contributing to the legal profession and empowering future generations.

One of the alumni, Ndapewa Ndemuweda, credits the organisation with helping her to later open her own law firm.

“I did my LLB at the University of Zululand, and thereafter, I went to UCT, where I did my postgraduate diploma in tax. I came back and worked for a few companies, and then — before that or after I joined practice — I worked for about four years while I was in practice and then went on to open up my own law firm, which is now almost five years. Throughout, they were paying for my studies, and — even until now — we still have that good relationship. I would really say that it made a difference because I didn’t have funding to pay for my studies.”

Another alumnus, Kauruumbua Koujo, emphasised that the JPK Trust Fund’s support gave him confidence, motivation and guidance throughout his legal studies.

“It is something that I always go back to because it was the spark that was needed to create the fire. They ignited the fire because you find yourself as a first‑year or second‑year law student who doesn’t have much confidence in this legal journey — where is it going? So when you are able to come to interviews, for example, when I went for the bursary interview at JPK, one of the key components that I keep reminding myself of, or reminiscing upon, is that I mentioned to them that I am not an A student, not a B student, but a C student. And later on in life it made sense because my justification for it was that we need to be practical and bring law to the people, so I cannot be confined to a library.”