Live the Dream campaign changes the lives of five students

16 April 2014 - 09:16 By Poppy Louw
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File photo.
File photo.
Image: Gallo Images/Thinkstock

Apart from his passion for IT, 19-year-old Teboho Phiri is an ardent healthcare activist and volunteer, who regularly helps at old-age homes and hospitals in Tembisa, in the east rand.

“I do not come from a financially wealthy or even good background, so it is my wish to be able to take care of my parents once I complete my course,” he said.

Phiri, who is studying in Sunnyside, was yesterday announced as one of five Rosebank College students to win the Live the Dream campaign.

The competition saw over 2 000 students from the institution’s five national campuses stick their aspirations on their respective campus notice boards.

Murendwa Ratshikhopha from the Braamfontein campus may come across as a shy 19-year-old, but the business management student from Limpopo has big dreams for her future.

“As with most kids, my dream was to perhaps become a teacher or a pilot – but that dream changed when I started doing Business as a subject in Grade 10,” she said.

In her dream sheet, Ratshikhopha – the first to get a tertiary education in her family – said her goal was to become a successful business manager and entrepreneur, who engages in social corporate investment to further the dreams of others.

Each of the winning students walked away with R38 000 in prizes – including a year’s tuition, a BlackBerry cellphone, airtime, clothing and movie vouchers.

Amos Marobola, father of the Auckland Park campus winner, Lenia, 18, said he would use the R24 000 tuition money he saved for his daughter towards his two other children.

Said Marobola: “I have always prayed that my children don’t turn out like me and achieve more with their lives. Lenia’s dream will help afford her siblings a brighter future.”

Lenia said she lived by the quote: “Without dreams we reach nothing. Without love we feel nothing and without God we are nothing.”

Rosebank College managing director Greg Fillmore said that the students were chosen based on the belief that they were the type to see their ambitions through to the end.

“The reality is that even though there are so many people out there with ambition, affording tertiary education will always be a struggle,” said Fillmore.

“That’s why we decided to forever change the lives of a few hand-picked South Africans like our winners.”

In her dream sheet Durban winner Nomalanga Shozi had said realising that her dreams were only a matter of hard work, dedication and commitment was the day she started living.

The 19-year-old student and radio presenter said: “I have dreams of establishing the Nomalanga Shozi brand, specialising in mass media presenting, brand development, public relations and become an overall jack-of-all trades in the media industry.”

 

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