Meet our Scholars
Many of our scholars are from extremely poor backgrounds, and the majority of our scholars have lost a parent or are orphans. They are inspiring individuals who are able to excel in school, despite their testing circumstances. Whilst each year we give 15 to 30 scholarships, here are some inspiring stories and quotes from scholars.
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Fadzai’s story
.“ To me the term “African Dream” means that all countries in Africa have to develop Africa and make it a formidable force to be reckoned through the world. As John F Kenny once said, ‘Our progress as a nation can be no swifter than our progress in education. The human mind is our fundamental resource’. This is all true in regard to the African continent. My African dream is to unleash the vortext of power within me in order to make a significant contribution in achieving the well deserved recognition for the African continent”
Fadzai was raised in a single parent family, and her mother who was unemployed struggled to make ends meet. Her mother takes care of 5 other dependents including her cousins and uncle. Despite her disadvantaged background, she emerged as one of the top students in her school
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Brenda’s story
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“I would to thank The African Dream Benefit for all the things they are doing for me. They have helped me so much. Now I am concentrating on my schoolwork. I now know that I am going to achieve my goals.”
Brenda was 16 years old when she was awarded a African Dream Scholarship. At the time of getting the scholarship Brenda was 2 years behind at school, due to her school fees not being paid. She was at a high risk of not completing her secondary school education. Raised in a rural town in Zimbabwe, Brenda is from a single parent family. Her single mother struggled to pay her school fees because she was also looking after her elderly sick mother. She has overcome extraordinary obstacles to become the accomplished young woman and outstanding leader she is today.
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Helen’s story
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“My African Dream is to have healthcare for every African. I wish to see health transcending to all sectors of the community and reaching the remote places of the continent. I believe that the development of the community is centred on the health of its members. If people are healthy they can plan, make decisions pertaining to development and can be involved wholly in manual activities. I want to offer myself as a medical practitioner and be involved in Public Health. I want to strategically target the young. They are important stakeholders in a nation’s development. They are the future of Africa and are responsible for transforming Africa. A healthy person builds a healthy Africa because healthy people’s minds are able to innovate and labor is adequately available”
With both parents unemployed and now in their late sixties, survival is based on a small chicken mesh in the backyard, which has to cater for feeding the family and fees for her younger siblings. This has been a challenge for Helen as it has not been enough to pay for her fees to study medicine. At the time of getting the scholarship, Helen was commuting from Chitungwiza ( a small town 3okm out of Harare). This was a challenge as she had to wake up very early to be able attend morning lectures and got home very late everyday. Helen was awarded a full scholarship including full board at the university.
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Happiness’s story
“It has always been my dream to become a doctor and become of use to my siblings and community. After my under graduate programme I want to specialise in paediatric surgery and will use my skills to offer free surgery to children with birth defects.
I believe that affordable high quality education is the most important way to significantly stop problems such as poverty, illiteracy, diseases, corruption and widespread unemployment. I dream of a Africa where children run free playing in the streets knowing that their future is secure.”
Having studied three subjects in his final year at a rural secondary school, Happiness achieved three ‘A’ grades. However, studying medicine became a challenge for him. Happiness is the first born in a family of six. His mother is late and his father is a security guard. Supporting his siblings in their day-to-day living is a constant challenge for his father. The fees required by the university are beyond his reach. Communting between the university and home was a challenge, and at times was forced to secretly sleep in lecture rooms at the university as he could not afford transportation costs. Happiness’s scholarship now includes full board at the university.
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