The late, great Nelson Mandela frequently acknowledged the importance of education, describing it as the “most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”.
However, due to socio-economic conditions, education for some is simply a dream.
The ‘Maps Maponyane Pearson Bursary’ has made the education dreams of Molinah Makasana Nkomo come true by awarding her a fully-paid bursary. This will allow her to complete her BSC Biomedicine qualification at Pearson Institute of Higher Education.
The excited young lady says: “I’m absolutely overjoyed. I would like to thank Maps Maponyane and Pearson Institute of Higher Education for the opportunity of a lifetime! This funding will not only help me finish my degree but fuel my vision of changing people’s lives through healthcare, once I start working. I was panicked and simply couldn’t find a way to continue my studies when I ran out of funds until I heard about the bursary application, which I boldly applied for. Today my dreams have come one step closer.”
While a top-performing student all through her life, achieving Silver in Life Sciences and Gold in Home Language, a lack of finances has temporarily put a halt to her educational. “My mother is a domestic worker so she can’t afford to provide any financial support. This bursary has been a lifesaver,” explains Nkomo.
“We are thrilled to make her education dreams come true. Like former President Mandela, we are passionate about empowering people with the ability to further their education in order to change their economic circumstances. We received a lot of applications but we felt that Molinah showed real potential to go on to bigger and brighter things in life. Her hard work and diligence stood out from the crowd, and we are eager to help her along her way to greatness. We look forward to watching her grow from strength to strength after she successfully completes her degree,” says Dr Nhlanhla Thwala at Pearson Institute of Higher Education.
Maps Maponyane says: “What a highlight it has been for us to change the life of an individual – who will go on to change the lives of so many others in her future. Congratulations Molinah and we anticipate great things from you.”
The Maps Maponyane Pearson Bursary received 164 applications. “The reaction we received from the South African public was immense. We hope to give other South Africans the same opportunity to realise their dream of a proper education through our ongoing bursary funding programme,” concludes Dr Thwlala.
The Maps Maponyane Pearson Bursary will cover full tuition for Nkomo for one year up to the value of R75000.
