Eikenhof matriculant shines against all odds
A brilliant sixteen-year-old excels in matric year through difficult living circumstances
EIKENHOF – A sixteen-year-old young girl from the dusty streets of Eikenhof squatter-camp did not let her impoverished background get in the way of her dreams, and excelled in her matric results.
“I love science and I know engineering can be a well-paid profession. I can’t live my whole life in a squatter-camp and I want to study something that I love and which will allow me to one day build a real home for my mother and my sisters,” said Dube.
Despite her youth, Busisiwe Dube from Moses Maren Technical Secondary School was accepted to study chemical engineering at the University of Pretoria. She passed her matric year, proving that difficult personal circumstances can be overcome with dedicated hard work.
Her school, Moses Maren Mission Technical High School, was adopted by the Industrial Development Corporation in 2011, through the Adopt-a-School Foundation programme, which is what propelled this youngster to heights she had only dreamed of.
Executive Director of Adopt-a-School Foundation, Stephen Lebere said, “To invest in change, we develop the youth – they will shape their own tomorrows. We are incredibly proud of this young adult, who represents many more matriculants who has overcome her very difficult circumstances and produced excellent results, competing with some of the country’s top private schools.”
In her matric year Busisiwe Dube was selected by the Council for Built Environment to take part in a mathematics and science weekend programme for top performing learners. She was also mentored by top businesswoman Jenna Clifford as part of the Cell C Institute of Mentorship programme.
Dube grew up in a squatter camp, living with her mother and three younger siblings, yet she has excelled throughout her schooling and will now realise her dream of studying to become an engineer.
Pupils from schools supported by the education NGO Adopt-a-School Foundation have excelled in their 2014 matric examinations, rising above difficult circumstances in their social and schooling environments.
Foundation’s Skills and Social Development head, Banyana Mohajane said, “The educators in our adopted schools work under difficult teaching conditions yet many remain positive and committed. Adopt-a-School believes that these educators can transform their schools. I am pleased that many of our successful matriculants recognise their teachers for their unwavering support and motivation.”
One of the many initiatives Adopt-a-School introduced in these schools was educator development programmes in mathematics, science and accounting which has been beneficial to the 2014 matrics and will continue to benefit the schools.
