Footprints 4 Sam scholarships awarded for Patch Academy courses

15 May 2022

In honour of what would have been Sam’s 7th birthday, on 9 April 2022, Footprints 4 Sam offered a number of scholarships to complete 10 Patch Academy courses.

We are thrilled to announce and congratulate the following people who were awarded a Footprints 4 Sam Scholarship to complete 10 Patch Academy Courses.

Miss Jessica Mtetwa
Dr Melese Shula
Miss Tshepiso Makum
Mrs Catherine Drysdale
Mrs Zama Mtembu
Miss Lisa Dube

About Footprints 4 Sam

Samuel John Frederick Platt was born on 9 April 2015. He spent all 15.5 months of his short life in hospital and endured countless medical interventions.

Following Sam’s death, Sam’s parents, Fred and Melissa, wanted Sam’s healthcare journey, which was far from perfect, to offer change, hope, dignity, mutual respect and connectedness for other children and families in similar situations. This was the start of Footprints 4 Sam.

The Trust fulfils this dream through a few simple initiatives aimed at serving underprivileged children and their families as each day they face the difficult journey of living with a life limiting condition. These complex conditions are often burdensome to the family and the Trust’s 6 key initiatives offer something tangible and beautiful in the midst of much pain and suffering.

It is their mission to leave Footprints of change in neonatal and paediatric wards countrywide, through the cultivation of a healthcare culture of swift and broad-based intervention, early diagnosis and real and achievable family centred solutions, which promote excellence of life for both child and family. Changing lives one footprint at a time.

About the scholarships, Sam’s mom, Melissa Williams-Platt, had this to say:

“These scholarships are an important foundation for growing the Samuel Generation of Healthcare, one where the humanity of each person in the healthcare system, whether patient, family member or health professional is recognised and truly respected. Healthcare quite simply has to start with the idea that we are all equal, as human beings and as such — compassion, kindness, mutual respect and dignity are simply non negotiable.

As a scholarship candidate, your commitment has to be to this fundamental approach to care. We look forward to welcoming you to the Samuel Generation of Healthcare and to the Footprints 4 Sam family!”

Learn more about Footprints 4 Sam at: www.footprints4sam.org