Former Ridgeway College student Andrew Hofmyer’s short film has not only gained him international recognition, but has also secured the college’s Sumbandila Scholarship Trust a welcome donation.

The Sumbandila Scholarship Trust was founded in 2007 by the principal of Ridgeway College in Louis Trichardt, Mrs Leigh Bristow. This scholarship programme provides full academic financial support for students from rural areas with strong academic potential. It also provides Saturday and holiday school for more than 100 children.

The first group of nine girls enrolled at the college in January 2008. Andrew was asked to film the selection process and the awarding of scholarships to those chosen. What he produced was a moving documentary that has had many in tears. Since then, a second documentary has been filmed, detailing the life of these students at the college and the progress that they have made.

In 2010, Andrew´s documentary was submitted to The Sirens Society Filmanthropy Festival competition in America. The films were showcased at the Cinespace in Hollywood on October 2 and 3 last year and, during an awards ceremony held on the evening of the 3rd, Andrew was awarded the Torch Award for Best Short Film. The winning of this award has not only gained international recognition for Andrew, but also for Sumbandila and Ridgeway College. The winners of the awards also got to support their charity, which meant that Andrew could donate $1000 to Sumbandila.