Feenix and Baker Hughes changing lives every day

At CN&CO, we work with people and brands we believe in – and Feenix is no exception. As a purpose-driven organisation, Feenix has spent the past seven years helping young South Africans access tertiary education through innovative, tech-enabled solutions. We’re proud to play a role in marketing and promoting their work, which continues to change lives in real and lasting ways.

Most recently, the Baker Hughes Foundation awarded Feenix a grant of $30,000 (around R550,000) to support the continued growth and development of its bursary programme. This is no ordinary bursary model. It’s one that Feenix and Baker Hughes co-created back in 2018 – a programme with structure, heart and long-term impact.

Since then, the partnership has supported 86 students at 20 public universities and cleared more than R4 million in student debt. More importantly, it’s helped those students go on to build their careers, support their families and contribute to their communities. By the end of 2023, nearly 90% of graduates funded through the programme had moved beyond the NEET (Not in Employment, Education or Training) classification. It’s a remarkable stat! But it’s the individual stories that truly show the ripple effect of access.

Young people like Ntombi Bhengu, whose Feenix-funded journey saw her complete a master’s degree, take on a leadership role at P&G, and launch a business that’s transforming early childhood literacy. Or Siyabonga, now an engineer in training at Transnet. Or Musa, now building a future in telecoms.

Blake Dyason, partner at CN&CO, says, “We are constantly inspired by the work Feenix does to make higher education more accessible. We’ve seen firsthand the passion and innovation of their team, and the impact of their partnerships with organisations like Baker Hughes. It’s a brand we are proud to stand beside – one that is helping build a more equal South Africa, one student at a time.”

This latest grant is not the start of something new, but the continuation of a relationship built on trust, innovation and shared purpose. And it allows Feenix the space to grow, enhancing its technology, reaching more students and strengthening its fundraising capacity.

As Feenix CEO Cara-Jean Petersen puts it, “This grant from the Baker Hughes Foundation represents so much more than financial support; it’s a deliberate investment in our capacity to innovate. With this support, we can turn ideas into action, scale our impact, and continue building a future where access to education is not dependent on wealth.”

We’re excited to keep sharing these stories and supporting a platform that’s helping the next generation of South Africans dream bigger and reach further.

Update (21 August 2025) CN&CO helped get this story published on Cape Business News: Baker Hughes Foundation supports Feenix’s continued innovation