In the year 2013, I was one of the Agang Sechaba bursary beneficiaries to study at the University of Johannesburg. Agang Sechaba provided me with financial and mentorship support - this was a privilege and a life-changing opportunity.
My experience with the organization has been more than that of a sponsorship, I found a family.
Agang Sechaba family has helped me a lot not only education wise but also in different aspects of my life such as grooming me as an individual, giving and showing me ways on how to go about changing my life as a young black child, being a better, helpful member of the society and becoming someone that young people learn and look up to. They have also taught me that giving and being helpful towards others should be my middle name as that would play a positive impact in the next person’s life.
Agang Sechaba has also been helpful to me towards obtaining my degree. They guided me on how to go about completing my course, assigned me to a mentor who provided a helping hand in my studies. They encouraged me and ensured that I was fuelled with motivation whenever things got tough. Most importantly they ensured that my fees were always paid up, made sure that I had all the resources that I need to get the job done.
Today I am a Bachelor of Education degree holder, a qualified educator who came from nothing to something all because of Agang Sechaba. I will forever be grateful for the opportunity because it changed my life.
"Agang Sechaba Trust gave me a second chance when I and everyone else had given up on me.
I spent most of my childhood at orphanages because I lost my mom when I was in Grade 4 and only 10 years old. In 2009 my aunt fostered me from Makeba Centre for Girls, 2010 things became difficult for her and she could not cope with me being a child and expecting financial support from her. In 2011 I was the RCL president at my school and loved by my teachers for my hard work at school, however at home things were escalating from bad to worse, a friend of mine offered me a place to stay at her home with her mother, I then fell pregnant and everyone became disappointed in me. I lost my support system and had accepted that I was going to be that township girl who was once loved by her teachers and did well at school, I would now be a “has been” with a child and work at farms, luckily I passed my matric.
In 2013 I applied for a bursary at Agang Sechaba Trust and I cried tears of Joy when I was called and informed that my application had been accepted. Although I wanted to study towards an LLB at UOFS Main campus I applied for a Bed (Bachelors in Education) at UOFS QwaQwa campus so that I could travel to and fro because I now had a baby. Agang Sechaba provided me with financial and emotional support throughout my studies, I had a group of powerful women who motivated me when I felt de motivated and reprimanded me when I went astray. I completed my degree in 2016 and graduated early 2017.
I landed myself a permanent teaching post at a high school as a Geography educator. I had difficulties adjusting to my new life, made a lot of rushed decisions and couldn’t keep up with how quickly my life was changing, I became suicidal, went in and out of Psychiatric hospitals. I was eventually put on medication for a mental condition. I had difficulties managing my mental health and would have episodes, I made another rushed decision which turned my whole life upside down, I resigned from work and ran away from my home. I lost my job, my children lost their safe home and we ended up staying at a shelter. I communicated my situation with Agang Sechaba and in due time I was offered an internship as an admin intern at the trust. Agang Sechaba had given me yet another chance and I am currently working as an online admin intern at Agang Sechaba, a job I’m most grateful to have.
Agang Sechaba has changed my life in the most tremendous way and I can’t begin to imagine what would have happened to me had it not given me a fighting chance in life."
I would like to thank Agang Sechaba ladies. They made my dream come true when I thought I would not see myself at varsity. I remember when I got confirmation that they will fund me. It was a few days before the registration closed and it all looked dark. Got the bursary, got registered and now issue was traveling, and I was struggling to get money for transport.
I remember asking if they can't fund my accommodation too, then they said they will come back to me. In a few days they said I could go look for residence they would pay. I was very happy and thankful because it was going to afford me more time for study than time on the road. I studied very hard and passed my degree and finished in record time all thanks to these ladies. They are our mommies.
Thank you for your hard work and making sure we are taken care of.
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