The St David’s Marist Day 2020 pledge

Each year, the St David’s Marist Inanda, in Johannesburg (South African) celebrates the Montagne Day on 28 October, in memory of the meeting of St Marcellin Champagnat with Jean-Baptiste Montagne, the boy that had had no education or spiritual formation. As part of this commemoration each year the St David’s Marist Foundation holds a Montagne Day Pledge campaign with the St David’s boys, to encourage the next generation of young philanthropists.   

The boys each write their own personal pledge as to how they will endeavor to live out the Marist values, and are asked to accompany this with a donation made from their own pocket money, or through earning it at home through an act of service.  The students’ pledges (as well as pledges made by staff, parents and Old Boys) are placed at the altar during the Montagne Day Masses held during the week of Montagne Day. 

Usually the donations go to the Foundation’s bursary fund, in support of further bursaries for boys in need to attend St David’s Marist (preparatory and high school). This year the St David’s boys were asked to think about how many children in South Africa are experiencing a lost school year due to not having had the benefit or access to online schooling that the St David’s boys were fortunate to be able to have during Lockdown. The funds raised this year will go to supporting students in the township of Alexandra through St David’s partner organizations there to provide bursaries for quality education for disadvantaged children.

St David’s Marist Inanda Foundation

The St David’s Marist Inanda Foundation was founded in 2006 to ensure the long-term sustainability of St David’s Marist.  The Foundation has as its primary aim the identification of opportunities for growth and development for St David’s boys. In the immediate term, the Foundation has the responsibility to ensure that children from financially disempowered communities also have the opportunity of a St David’s education and to share in the Marist vision.