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PASSAGES, HOWEVER LONG THEY MAY LAST, WILL LEAVE YOU CHANGED. Are there things you wish you knew when you began your adventure, and moved to the United States? If so, we would love to hear from you, in particular if you carried out post-graduate studies here, after your Wits degree. You are all invited to join the first Wits Fund Interactive Indaba 2025 (see the invite below for details). We will share our experiences, triumphs, and challenges… and network with other Witsies and alumni who’ve made the same passage, from Wits to the US.

DO YOU REMEMBER BEING A FIRST-YEAR? The feeling of wonder and possibilities and all the paths not yet taken? Have you held on to the optimism, knowing that every day, there is a chance to do good, to learn something new, and to keep finding new ways forward? We hope this newsletter will be a spark for some of that for you.

TWENTY TWENTY THRIVE – THAT’S WHAT SOUTH AFRICANS ARE CALLING 2025. So typical of a country that is full of humor and hope and possibility. Wits has started welcoming students, new and old, who are on a path of learning and service. We can’t wait to see how they use their education to make the world a better place.

IN THIS SEASON OF GIVING AND GENEROSITY, the members of the Wits Fund wish you and your loved ones joy and light, and a restful and safe December. As you contemplate your giving and charitable donations, we remain grateful for your support of Wits, our alma mater. Donate here.

THE END OF NOVEMBER IS A TIME WHEN WE ARE ASKED TO GIVE THANKS. Science tells us that regularly thinking about our blessings helps improve both our mental and physical health. Finding ways of giving back, in gratitude, is the reason the Wits Fund Inc. was established, helping US Witsies connect to each other, and find ways of improving their communities, both at home in the United States, and in South Africa.

OUR PLANET IS THE HERITAGE WE LEAVE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION. We all want to ensure that we leave the world better than we found it, and work towards a better future by living our lives in service to others. How can we support the next generation to do the same?

HOW DO YOU DEFINE A GOOD GRADUATE? Is it their academic prowess, or is it their ability to apply what they have learnt in the real world? Will they be good citizens, making ethical choices, no matter their profession? Is it a combination? The latest session of the Wits Fund Indaba (video link below) had us thinking about these questions, and our own roles in creating paths for the next generation.

AS SUMMER WINDS DOWN and children head back to school, it is amazing to think of the potential of each child, and how they can change the world. Our role is to ensure that the world they inherit will be better, and safer, and more equitable. And for those heading to university, to make sure that their experience is as rewarding as ours was.