Maye Musk sponsors UFS scholarship to combat malnutrition in South African women and children

Maye Musk, the mother of South African-born entrepreneur Elon Musk, has established a scholarship to support students pursuing Master's degree studies in nutrition and dietetics at the University of the Free State (UFS). The initiative, aimed at addressing the critical issue of malnutrition, will partly fund two full-time master’s students researching the link between the effect of mother’s nutrition on the birth outcomes and growth of their newborn children. Prof. Corinna Walsh from UFS explained that Musk’s involvement stems from her understanding of the impact of nutrition on health and her efforts in promoting healthy eating. As an alumnus of UFS, Maye Musk’s journey in dietetics began with a hospital diploma, progressed through a bursary-funded master’s degree, and culminated in an honorary doctorate awarded in 2023. The $15,000 scholarship, allocated as $7,500 per student per year, supports these students’ full-time study. Prof Walsh highlighted that malnutrition in South Africa leads to high rates of stunting, affecting up to one in every three children—a condition linked to an increased risk of obesity later in life.