Abstract:
The origin of the World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology
(WAAVP) African Foundation is described. The 16th WAAVP Conference held in South
Africa in 1997 generated a surplus of ZAR 430 460 (US$ 70 116). This was invested and a
foundation established to manage the fund with the intention of using it to the mutual
advantage of the WAAVP and African veterinary parasitologists. To date, more than
110 scholarship applications have been screened, and 51 full and partial scholarships
awarded to young African veterinary parasitologists to attend subsequent biennial
WAAVP Conferences. This investment has grown into a very successful endowment
currently valued at US$ 206 553. This article is written in response to many queries across
the globe about the origin of this fund and how it has been invested, managed, sustained
and utilised.