UWC helps student, 50, with bursary
IT IS never too late to learn. Just ask 50-year-old Khulukazi Ralase, who is earning a law degree with help from the University of the Western Cape’s Access To Success 2017 campaign.
UWC launched the Access To Success campaign, which focuses on providing muchneeded funding to students who are performing well academically but who cannot afford university fees.
Ralase considers herself a late bloomer after matriculating from St Francis Adult Education Centre in Langa, but only got the opportunity to study at the age of 46.
When her twin sister Ncikazi fell pregnant in the year they were supposed to start university, Khulukazi decided she was willing to put her education plans on hold and look after her sister’s baby until her sister finished her degree.
Her desire to study further continued to grow as she saw her twin sister’s progress in her studies, especially when she realised that there were opportunities in the form of the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) programme at UWC.
She said: “This programme paved the way for me and now I am ready to make a difference in my community.
“I want to pursue the dream of officially launching a programme called Keep Them Safe, aimed at preventing children from committing crimes, focusing on youth development.”
After having to complete a bridging course in 2013, she was only able to apply successfully in 2014.
But there are still challenges to overcome: unreliable public transport, the financial struggle of fees, textbooks, and a home environment where she does not have her own study space. “I have to wait for everyone to go to sleep.
“That is the only time I have to study, and sometimes my studies give me uphill (battles) too, and I struggle with a few modules, but I’m learning to keep pushing through.
“Access To Success is a great campaign to help students who cannot afford university fees. It will play a big role in ending the FeesMustFall campaign, giving access for students like myself from previously disadvantaged areas to succeed and help others in the process.”
THE cost of living is rising every day, food prices are sky-rocketing, the petrol price is continually rising and textbooks aren’t getting any cheaper. And students are feeling the brunt of these economic challenges, irrespective of the provision of financial aid.
It all adds to the stress of studying, especially for those who can’t call home for help.
That’s why UWC launched the Access To Success campaign, which focuses on providing much-needed funding to students who are performing well academically, but who cannot afford university fees.
Samantha Castle, manager of the UWC Alumni Office, said the university had launched the campaign to curb the tendency of students quitting their studies because they couldn’t keep up with the financial demands of studying.
Access To Success started last year when more than R1 million was raised in the phonathon linked to the campaign. This year the phonathon started August 7 and will continue until August 31.
“With issues of higher education and the sustainability of universities in South Africa under an intense spotlight, the public’s support of our university is more important than ever.
“Last year, the focus was on calling on alumni, staff, corporates and friends of the university to assist students by donating, but this year we’re extending this invitation to the wider public.”
The Access to Success campaign consists of a public media fund-raising campaign and an alumni phonathon geared-towards staff and alumni to pledge towards the campaign.
To date 93 students have benefited. Students apply for this funding through UWC’s financial aid office.
“The UWC personifies hope and resilience.
“Many of our alumni have made a lasting contribution to society, often in spite of less than ideal circumstances. They have proven that with access to quality education, anything is possible.
“And we want to help others get the chance to prove it as well.”
One of the recipients of the campaign is Philisa Mzuku.
She didn’t have any funding for her studies in psychology and communications, but UWC’s Access to Success campaign solved that problem.
Now in her final year as a BA student, Mzuku’s studies have been a fascinating experience and also a challenging one because of financial difficulties.
“In my first and second year I didn’t have any funding for my studies.
“There were times when I didn’t attend class because I simply didn’t have the money for it.
“But the Access to Success campaign has really reduced the burden and helped me focus on my studies,” said Mzuku, 20.
The Cape Town resident lives with her family, her mother, father and four siblings (she’s the secondborn and also the second one to go to university).
After matriculating from Inkwenkwezi Secondary School, she decided to study at UWC for two reasons: the swift response to her application and the fact that her sister was already at the university, studying nursing.
“I could adapt so much better since she was leading me and helped me in every new step on my path, as a new student at UWC.”
But having a sibling as a fellow student didn’t help with one important aspect: the significant challenges she faced on the financial front.
“We struggled a lot because I am not the only one who had to make use of transport when attending school every day and I also didn’t have assistance when it came to food.
“My dad was the only one working and the money meant for food was mostly spent on buying textbooks and course readers, and we both have other siblings, who need money and make demands around some of their own needs.”
The distance Mzuku had to travel from home to school via taxi and train made it even harder for her.
At home she didn’t have a laptop or phone to work on her studies, or a space to study, and the environment wasn’t ideal for studying.
She would have to wake up early to get to campus to get all her work done and get home safely.
“Gangsterism is all around where I live and therefore it is wise to go home early, even though I do not always have a chance to complete my assignment on time.”
Mzuku was overjoyed when selected by the university and was awarded a bursary. “I had R50 000 in student debt. “Access to Success helped me by offering R15 000 to reduce my debt.
“I thank the donors for their assistance. This has motivated me to focus on my studies more than I did before.”
Mzuku plans to continue her studies next year by enrolling for a Honours degree at the Institute for Social Development, a research institute with a long-standing and successful postgraduate programme in development studies.
“If I don’t qualify, I want to do an internship or start working in the language communication studies field, media or journalism – something that has to do with communication. And after that?
“I want to get a job that will satisfy my needs and I want to travel the world conducting research.
“In 10 years I see myself as someone successful and a motivator, or a role model to many.
“I dream of helping other kids, who never get a chance to have access to education.”
Mzuku has joined a community non-profit organisation that assists high school students with going to university or other tertiary education programmes.
She acknowledges the role models in her life, especially her mother.
“She made me believe in myself and keeps on encouraging me to be fearful of being average and to strive for the best in each and every opportunity I encounter.
“She is not highly educated, but she always tells me to put education first and I think she is the reason all of her children are studying now.”
Those wanting to donate to the campaign can contact Somayah Barnes at 021 959 2143 or sbarnes@ uwc.ac.za to make arrangements for payment.