A group of young graduates in Mpumalanga have pledged to offer a portion of their monthly salary to assist students who are coming from poor families to further their studies.
They gathered in Whiter River near Mbombela to officially launch a foundation that will assist other needy students.
The initiative is led by the MEC for Safety Security and Liaison, Pat Ngomane. Ngomane says it is overwhelming to see some of the people whom he assisted giving back to the community.
A portion of their salary goes towards paying tertiary education fees for those who can’t afford it.
The group of graduates comes from poor backgrounds but wants others to have access to tertiary education.
They had to overcome many challenges to graduate, including costly fees to complete a degree and graduate. But through the help of good Samaritans, they managed to study and graduated. Now that they are employed, they are ploughing back to their communities.
“What we are doing now is to contribute about R250 a month to help those who can’t afford university fees,” says one graduate, Warick Segage.
“I never thought that I will one day make it to university, thanks to those who made it possible,” adds another graduate, Bongani Ngobe.
The graduates say, the initiative was inspired by those who helped them during difficult times. Some of those who funded the graduate’s tertiary fees are now leaders in government.
“I am humbled by what is happening here today, I am from a poor background, working together we can make a difference,” says Mpumalanga Safety and Security MEC, Pat Ngomane.
“We started this a long time ago, we used our money, not government money to help the young people. It is encouraging that they are here to say thank you and also continue to help others,”says Dirco deputy minister, Reginah Mhaule.
Business people have also been urged to lend a helping hand in order to change lives of the less privileged.
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