There is light at the end of the tunnel for Alex varsity students who are on the brink of despair.
This hope is offered by Ignition, a Rays of Hope project that mentors young university students from Alexandra, which has recorded 2015 as its most successful year ever.
Project leader Sarah van Zyl explained that of the 89 semester courses that their students took in 2015, they had an overall pass rate of 93 percent and of these courses, 28 percent were passed with distinction; and they also had two students graduate.
Van Zyl was speaking at the annual function where Ignition recognised the achievements of its students. The students, too, were clearly proud of their achievements, and the leaders and mentors satisfied that their efforts had been worthwhile.
Ignition selects matric pupils from Alexandra who show academic potential and personal commitment to building their careers, and offers them professional guidance in terms of their choice of university and area of study.
Loan funding is then arranged and a mentor assigned to each participant. Their progress is monitored for the duration of their studies. It is a long, intense process that usually lasts several years for a successful student.
Ignition currently has 13 students in the programme, Van Zyl said.
Candice Sehoma graduated at the end of 2015 with a BA from the Health Sciences faculty at Unisa. She majored in psychology and social services and is currently doing her honours in developmental studies at the University of Pretoria.
“The course took me four years,” she explained.
“Because I was working at the same time, I found it emotionally exhausting, but I managed to get there in the end.” Besides achieving her degree, Sehoma received several awards for her ground-breaking work in improving the standard of sanitation for large parts of Alex.
Nokuthula Sefa is in her final year of study to become a clinical laboratory technician. “I studied at the Vaal University of Technology with a bursary from Lancet Laboratories,” she said.
“Now the formal studies are over and I am doing my practical year at one of the Lancet labs. I look forward to finishing in 2016 so I can get on with my career. Ignition has been amazing – they have helped me every step of the way through support and mentoring.”
Ayabonga Siwa initially studied mathematical sciences, but midway through the year found that it was not what he expected, so he left university. “I was undecided about what to do, so I approached Ignition. They were fantastic and gave me a range of tests and meetings with counsellors. I am now doing a B Comm accounting degree, which is perfect for me. I am enjoying the course and my life is well-rounded. I even sing in the university choir,” he enthused.
“Without the support and belief of my family and Ignition, I would not be where I am today. I am the first person from my family to go to university and they are so proud of me.”
Ignition is full of stories of young people from backgrounds that are not conducive to academic education and career-enhancement, stories of matriculants who have great potential but who lack the funding to go to university.
“This is a partnership,” explained Van Zyl.
“We provide the guidance and the means to study. But in the end, it is up to the students themselves to make it happen – even though their circumstances are extremely difficult.”
