Two young South Africans to join Bowman Gilfillan Africa's Managing Partner and Head of Banking & Finance on CEO Sleepout
Bowman Gilfillan Africa Group's Managing Partner Alan Keep, and Head of Banking & Finance Francisco Khoza will be joined at the CEO Sleepout, taking place in Johannesburg on 28 July this year, by two outstanding young South Africans, law student and the firm's bursary recipient Kamogelo Sono and school pupil and future law student, Lesedi Nkwe.
Kamogelo Sono is studying towards his LLB qualification at the University of Pretoria (UP). He is the Deputy Chairperson of Seispro Society and a member of Golden Key International Honour Society. He was on the Deans Merit list in 2013, 2014 and 2015 and received a UP Achievement Award. Kamogelo has a bursary from the Bowman Gilfillan Africa Group and will join the firm as a candidate attorney at the beginning of 2017, once he has completed his final year of his LLB.
Kamogelo said of his participation in the CEO Sleepout campaign, "I think it’s a really worthy cause. South Africa has one of the highest income inequality ratios in the world. We still have a lot of work to do to fix this, but I think the CEO Sleep Out is one of those campaigns that not only recognises this fact but also tries to educate and make people aware of the social responsibilities in this regard.
"Experience is the best teacher and so I think it is a great idea that people who are regarded as the "game-changers" and the "shot-callers" get to spend time in the shoes of homeless people. The campaign has shown me a different side of the corporate world, it is heartwarming to know that we have so many business people that want to give their time and money to worthy causes."
Lesedi Nkwe is currently the deputy head boy at Redhill High School. Bowman Gilfillan Africa Group sponsors Lesedi through an organisation called Student Sponsorship Programme (SSP). This organisation identifies star individuals at a primary school level from disadvantaged backgrounds and sponsors them throughout their high school career.
Lesedi has been the chairperson of the outreach committee in the Johannesburg Junior Council. He has academic Colours and received the SSP Dux Scholar Trophy for Grade 11. He has been awarded scrolls for the English and IsiZulu Olympiad, the Science Expo, as well as for rugby. Lesedi has applied to study towards an LLB qualification next year, and has already been accepted by the universities of Cape Town, Witwatersrand and Stellenbosch.
Lesedi said that he applauded the CEO Sleepout for leading a campaign that is changing lives.
"As a recipient of a bursary myself, I cannot stress enough the difference that this initiative will make to so many young people who, like myself, have what it takes to succeed but not the financial means. I am honoured and excited to take part in this event as I believe it captures the essence of what Mandela Month is all about, which is, to make a positive and sustainable change in the world."
