The International Education and Partnerships (IEP) Office at DUT hosted a Celebratory Tea for the Abe Bailey Travel Bursary 2022 winner, Dr Keiron Boosi at the Council Chambers, ML Sultan Campus, on Tuesday, 20 September 2022.

Dr Boosi from Morningside, Durban recently completed her Chiropractic studies at DUT. At the event she was accompanied by her family and friends.

The Abe Bailey Travel Bursary is awarded to outstanding students who have shown exceptional leadership qualities with strong service ethics, qualities that Dr Boosi undoubtedly possesses and it was clearly evident that it was the reason for her winning the award.

Delivering his opening remarks, Dr Lavern Samuels, Director: International Educations and Partnerships said DUT has been very fortunate as it has hosted several Celebratory Teas for the Abe Bailey winners over the years. Previous winners of the Abe Bailey Travel Bursary have gone on to become Vice-Chancellors of universities, Judges of the High Court, Cabinet Ministers, Ambassadors and one has become the President of South Africa.

He extended his appreciation to the DUT team who were part of the panel of judges and those who worked tirelessly behind the scenes in ensuring that Dr Boosi is awarded the Abe Bailey Bursary.

Passing her congratulatory remarks, the Executive Dean: Faculty of Health Sciences, Professor Gugu Mchunu said from her first engagement with Dr Boosi she could pick up that she is very passionate about what she does.

She reminded Dr Boosi that when she travels she would not only be representing DUT but she would be representing the whole of South Africa.

Talking about the role of mothers, Dr Samuels gave a brief background on the motivation of Abe Bailey to start this Trust was because he lost his mother when he was seven years old, therefore motivating him to give support to other young leaders to succeed.

The Head of the Chiropractic Department at DUT, Dr Desiree Varatharajullu also expressed her gratitude to Dr Boosi for her hard work over the years while she was a student at DUT. She added that through determination and hard work, great things are still to come from Dr Boosi.

Recorded messages from previous winners from DUT, Dr Izanne Jacobs and Dr Hannah Korten were also played for Dr Boosi where the two were wishing her well on her new journey.

A heartfelt message came from Dr Boosi’s mother, Ms Nisha Boosi who expressed that she is lucky to have a daughter like her. She voiced how proud she is of Dr Boosi and reminded her that she is now a role model to other young women and that she should always lead by example.

Dr Boosi expressed her sincere appreciation to the Chiropractic Department for guidance and support over the years. It is not her first time making DUT proud, she was elected as a Board of Directors member and Director of External affairs for the World Congress of Chiropractic Students (WCCS), at the WCCS Annual General Meeting (AGM) in 2020, an international forum representing the global student chiropractic population.

She also thanked her mother for her lessons and being her pillar of strength throughout her life. Dr Boosi had applied for this bursary previously and was declined. However, she is grateful that she found the courage to re-apply, which led to her being selected as a winner. Her aim is to acquire knowledge that she can pass on to other students in others to help them improve their lives.

This year, the Travel Bursary to the United Kingdom will be for the period 22 November 2022 to 18 December 2022.

Pictured. Dr Keiron Boosi.

Simangele Zuma