Scholarship takes Andile from Khayelitsha to a Masters Degree in Geneva

ANDILE Dyonase, (24), grew up in Khayelitsha where access to university is limited as result of the poor standard of secondary education and cost of higher education.

Dyonase’s destiny changed when he enrolled at the Tertiary School in Business Administration (TSiBA) in 2009 and, in just four years, graduated with a Higher Certificate and Bachelor in Business Administration.

Andile got this opportunity because TSiBA is a non-profit tertiary business school which awards all of its students scholarships to study accredited business programmes.

This year Dyonase went further than even he thought possible by completing his postgraduate studies on a Kofi Annan Scholarship in Geneva and graduating with a Master of Science in International Finance from Business School Lausanne.

Dyonase recalls “The day I set foot in TSiBA my whole world changed and I discovered untapped potential buried inside me. It wasn’t all plain sailing as I struggled with maths because I lacked a solid mathematical background, but with the help of dedicated staff and lecturers, hard work and determination I passed maths with flying colours.

“Growing up in a township, I never dreamed I would go to university, let alone travel across the world. Success was not something I identified with, or could even relate to.”

“When I return home I cannot wait to share my journey with fellow young South Africans so they realise the future is in their hands, not those of the government, parents or school.

“With the right attitude, they too can reach their highest potential regardless of their background.”