THE GEORGE BIZOS SAHETI SCHOLARSHIP & BURSARY FUND – June 2025

Overview

The George Bizos SAHETI Scholarship and Bursary Fund (GBSSBF) has continued to build on its mission during the 2024–2025 period, honouring the remarkable legacy of Advocate George Bizos through a dynamic calendar of activities that reflect his lifelong commitment to justice, education, and Hellenic values.

Our activities and initiatives have not only celebrated his enduring contributions but also strengthened the visibility and impact of the Fund within SAHETI School and the broader South African & global community. From the inspiring George Bizos Icon documentary screenings to the vibrant sporting, cultural and arts initiatives, each event has served as a tribute to Bizos’ vision and values, while engaging new audiences and encouraging deeper connections with his legacy.

Key highlights have included the successful hosting of the celebratory gala dinner, the popular GB 5km Mini Marathon and Fun Run, and strategic efforts to grow the Fund’s reach. Through these events, the GBSSBF has promoted SAHETI School, championed educational access, and has continued to raise essential funds for bursaries and scholarships. Importantly, 2024–2025 has also seen the foundation laid for new collaborations with both South African and international organisations and institutions, paving the way for sustainable partnerships and future growth. The Fund remains dedicated to fostering opportunities that reflect the spirit of George Bizos: courage, compassion, and an unwavering belief in the power of education.

Summary of past activities and initiatives

Heralding 50 years of SAHETI in 2024, in late 2023, it was with great pride and a sense of excitement that the GBSSBF launched the 50th birthday Anniversary year of SAHETI School with a prestigious Gala event, with guests from the broader South African Legal, Business, Sporting and Arts landscapes. We were honoured to have acclaimed author, Trustee of Freedom Park, SA Heritage Resources Agency Councillor and Human rights activist Luli Callinicos as our key-note speaker and guest of honour. The evenings proceedings ended with an art auction, including works donated from prominent South African artists. As a result of this, we were pleased to announce a new Arts Bursary for the GBSSBF, to be awarded to deserving learners at SAHETI, in perpetuity.

Throughout 2024 and to date in 2025, events around the George Bizos Icon documentary, directed by Peter Goldsmid and Thandi Lipman, have been shown at exclusive screenings around the country and globally. Screenings in London, Athens, Cyprus, Kenya, New Zealand and Australia, have engaged audiences in appreciation of Advocate Bizos’ legacy and created awareness for both the GBSSBF and SAHETI School. The film also formed part of the Australia & New Zealand Film Festival. Notably, many SAHETI alumni attended the screening in Perth, Australia.
In October of 2024, the GBSSBF in collaboration with the Cape Town Hellenic Community, as part of their own Hellenic week initiative, brought the documentary to audiences there.
September and October 2024 cultural events included outings to the theatre: Harry Sidiropoulos’ Swinging Las Vegas musical followed by the Urban Circus Spectacular.
The SAFRIPOL TOY drive initiative, in November of 2024, saw our SAHETI family rise to the top of the list as one of the most ‘giving’ schools in Gauteng.
As part of the GBSSBF’s mission to foster lasting relationships with other institutions, in November of 2024, the GBSSBF participated in the Joburg Cricket Club’s Inner City cricket match event, at their home grounds at HOPE Village in Johannesburg.
In February 2025, the highly anticipated, George Bizos 5km Mini Marathon and Fun Run, took place at Saheti School, supported and sponsored by Balwin Sport and Jeppe Marathon.
In March of 2025, the George Bizos Icon documentary was shown at the Benaki Museum (Mouseio Mpenakh) in Athens.

Key Current Projects

Since the beginning of 2025, the GBSSBF has undertaken the evaluation and restoration project of the Dimitris Mytaras tapestry, housed in the Bylos Music centre, on the Saheti campus. This work, initially commissioned by the National Bank of Greece, Athens, for the opening of the new headquarters of The South African Bank of Athens Limited, at 116 Marshal Street in Johannesburg in the early 1970’s, was donated to SAHETI School by the local Bank.

The project aims to restore and preserve this valuable artwork which also forms an important part of Greece’s contemporary art history and legacy. The fund has engaged art historian, Dr. Fred Scott and, on his recommendation, a team of professional fine-art weavers and restorers have evaluated and offered solutions to this end. Through a number of activities and initiatives, the GBSSBF hopes to raise, the necessary funds to restore this masterpiece.

Caption for the image that follows below

The image below shows the Mytaras tapestry, in its current condition. The work is a large wool tapestry, measuring 10 meters by 4 meters. It is housed in the Bylos Music Centre on Saheti School campus.

Since October 2024, and to current date, the GBSSBF, has successfully pursued an important synergetic relationship with Breathe Hellas , an international non-profit organisation founded by Tatiana Blatnik (Princess Tatiana of Greece) championing the importance of mental health in schools, through sporting and other creative initiatives. We will be launching this initiative, in association with Breathe Hellas and the Kevin Love Fund, (Kevin Love is a highly respected sportsman and professional basketball player in the USA) during SAHETI’s third term in 2025.

Keeping the two abovementioned projects in mind, the GBSSBF, is simultaneously launching a further series of events in the upcoming period, which align with the aims and goals of the trajectories laid above, namely:

Artist Dimitris Mytaras, Circa 1970s

In commemoration of 5 years since Advocate Bizos’ passing, on the 9^th of September 2025, we will be launching the Heritage Art Legacy project, which will engage learners of all ages, as well as members of the public, amateur and professional artists in creating artworks, within the theme: “We Are Stronger Together”. These will be included in the end of year Arethe Bizos Exhibition of 1000 drawings and fundraising event.
A Long Table gala dinner event, exhibition and art auction, in the Bylos Music Centre, under the newly restored Dimitris Mytaras Tapestry, is planned for late November 2025.

Future Projects

The George Bizos-Wits Archive Project, in conjunction with the University of the Witwatersrand, has currently been actioned for completion in 2026.
Collaborative art-based projects with GIBS business school and Lyceum of Greek Ladies
Sculpture and Saheti Meander Project
Cataloguing of respective Saheti and GBSSBF Art collections
Evolution of the Future legacy Makers project, lectures and workshops, engagement with GBSSBF Future Legacy Makers, such as Penny Siopis, Thuli Madonsela and Nicole Fritz.

Fundraising

In the period 2024/2025, other than our direct fundraising efforts, a number of notable donations from various patrons and supporters have contributed to our efforts. Special mention must be made, amongst others, of certain international contributions, notably:

John & Panayotis Tomaras.
Dino Tomazos, head of the Agora Dialogue, based in Cyprus.

In conclusion

It was Advocate Bizos’ wish that we not only continue with the work of the George Bizos SAHETI Scholarship and Bursary Fund (GBSSBF) after his passing but also create a fertile landscape in which we can cultivate and grow his legacy.

Our fundraising program for the period 2025/26, “Creating Future Legacies”, is a notion inspired by Advocate Bizos’ tireless investment in the betterment of all our futures. By his own admission, the core values of Hellenism drove his own work in embracing the pursuit of truth, the pursuit of knowledge, moderation, civic responsibility and respect for humanity and self. These values are the cornerstone of our “Creating Future Legacies” programme.