Connect Amanda to a brighter future

STRONG-WILLED, passionate, humble and committed are a few words that describe the Hillcrest Advice Bureau and Bursary Fund’s newly accepted student, Phumelele Amanda Manqele.

During her interview with the Highway Mail, Amanda recalled a few moments from her past that caused her to mature faster than many at her age.

She lived off R200 a month, which covered the cost of boarding at her school as well as food and basic necessities such as toothpaste, soap and deodorant.

Even with the odds set against her, she matriculated with a Bachelor’s pass in 2013. But, due to a lack of funds, she was unable to register to study the following year.

Her mom died in 2007 and she never knew her dad.

She lives with her grandmother, sister and her sister’s children. The gran uses her pension to put food on the table and when her sister found a job, she saved up small amounts until she could enroll Amanda for a course.

However, she was unable to register in 2016 as her sister lost her job and there was not enough money in their household to cover the fees.

During her first semester with UNISA, studying a BEd, she received excellent marks: 92, 71, 71, 65 and 54 despite the fact that her course requires her to have a laptop, which she is unable to afford.

“It is recommended as we have to type up our assignments and without it I will not be able to complete them.”

“Commenting online also gives you extra points,” said Amanda who has taken on five modules and nine of the assignments need to be completed online.

She doesn’t use the computers at her college as there is a limited number available, it needs to be booked well in advance and there is a time limit of one hour per session.

“I would really appreciate the help,” said Amanda. “I want to achieve my dreams and one day would also like to help others in need.”

“Access to laptops is a real problem for our students. As a charitable organisation dedicated to spending wisely and spreading the benefit of all donated funds, we have maintained a policy of not purchasing laptops for students.”

“Laptops are now as essential as textbooks.”

“There is this perception of underprivileged children with expensive equipment. The truth is that many of them would rather buy data and pay off these items of equipment than purchase food,” said the Hillcrest Advice Bureau and Bursary Fund’s chairman, Tanya Harvey.

If you would like to donate a laptop, or if you have a spare laptop that is in good working order, contact Tanya on 082 422 9683.

If more than one laptop is donated, it will be distributed to other students in need.

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