My name is Talent Chinogureyi. I am 19 years old. I joined Ikamva Youth in the year 2009 as I was doing grade 9 at Bonela Secondary School in Durban, after my school received an advert from this organization in search of less privileged students from less privileged communities who are passionate about passing in-spite of their financial standing.
I was found worthy enough to partake in this program. Consistently I attended throughout and I really benefited from it.
Since I joined, I noticed a sudden slight increase in my marks in almost all my subjects. Late in grade 9 we were required to choose subjects that we would like to do in grade 10 up to matric. I chose Physical Science, Mathematics, Accounting, and Life Science, alongside English Home Language, IsiZulu and Life Orientation.
These were the subjects that everyone else was running away from because of the failing rates. Well, I told myself that I could do it. With support from my teachers at school and my tutors from Ikamva Youth, I really made it.
I wrote my final exams and passed. Though I got the symbols I wasn’t expecting, considering all the work I put in, but I did passed with a bachelors degree pass, very much better that most of the students I matriculated with.
At Ikamva we had ‘Winter school’ were we engage in some activities, these included career guidance. They did really enlighten me about various careers available out there and what it takes to reach there. They even went ahead in inviting some people who can be our role models and mentors. In really enjoyed it because I had an opportunity to speak one-on-one with someone who is doing it already.
Looking back to my family’s financial instability, I thought I wasn’t going to reach university despite the fact that I passed. I just applied, for the sake of trying my luck. The universities I applied to include, ‘St Augustine College of SA’, which was introduced to me by Thabsile, Ikamva Youth District coordinator.
Just after the results came out, I received a message from this College offering me a place to study BCom(PPE) . I couldn’t accept this offer yet because I didn’t know where the funds were going to come from. Then a week later, I received an email notifying me that I have been given 90% bursary towards my tuitions to study this course, with the accommodation paid for. I was really overwhelmed, I couldn’t believe it because I had already told myself that I wasn’t studying this year at all because I tried to apply for student loans and some bursaries that I knew of, but they couldn’t grant me any because I’m not a South African citizen.
At this College no work is to be submitted hand-written, only typed work is to be submitted. My gratitude goes to Ikamva Youth for one of their programs called ‘Operation Fikelela’, where they taught us how to use computers, right from the basics. Now I do not have any problem concerning my assignments.
“YOU ARE A STAR! YOU HAVE IT IN YOU TO REACH THE TOP! GO FOR IT AND NEVER LOOK BACK!” These were the words from my class teacher – my motivation! Right now, things are not easy at all, university is unlike secondary school, but with these words I’m still upon my two feet.
Last but not least I would like to give God Almighty all the glory for making it possible for me to be where I am right now. Secondly I would like to thank the organization, Ikamva Youth as a whole, not forgetting all my tutors and the coordinator for such an amazing voluntary work, it is really going a long way. I would also like to thank my teachers at Bonela Secondary and everyone else who made me a person I am today. I really understand that in life, no one would make it on his/her own. ‘A PERSON IS A PERSON THROUGH THE PROPAGATION OF OTHER PEOPLE.’
Lloyd Lungu