Bursary helps needy student
Mancosa impressed by hard-working daughter of ailing, unemployed parents
LADY Luck was smiling on pupil Ammaarah Creighton who wrote her matric exams while she and her family struggled through a tough year of being homeless and almost penniless.
Against all odds, the Trafalgar High School pupil achieved a Bachelor’s pass which allowed her to enrol at university. Just when her dream of pursuing tertiary education seemed remote because she would not be able to afford the fees, she was approached by private higher education institution Mancosa and offered a bursary.
The 18-year-old has also been offered a part-time job by Mancosa while she studies for the Bachelor of Business Administration degree.
Creighton, who loves Latin and ballroom dancing, for which she has Western Province colours, said she was still coming to terms with the change of fortune in her life.
“The final year of schooling was a real struggle. Both my parents were unwell and unemployed. I also have a 22-year old sister and an 8-year old brother. We were forced to move from one house to another. Presently we live in a converted garage in Salt River. There are no partitions. We cook, eat and sleep in the same space.
“Studying was difficult as there was no separate room where I could concentrate. However, I was determined to do well in the matric year as I wanted to be a teacher. I love children,” Creighton said.
“Despite all the difficulties at home, I’m thankful that I attained a good pass. While I could not follow my dream to be a teacher, I’m overjoyed to have been offered a bursary.
“Mancosa doesn’t offer education courses in Cape Town, so I opted to study business administration. This will help my family tremendously,” she said.
Mancosa associate director in Cape Town, Nuhraan Sambo, said she was touched by Creighton’s plight and decided Mancosa could help.
“Her determination to succeed in life despite the obstacles in her path convinced my colleagues at Mancosa and I that she would be a worthy recipient of a study bursary.
“We hope that Ammaarah’s dedication to her studies will help as an inspiration to others to achieve academic success even in the face of hurdles,” she said. She added that there were plans to offer education courses in Cape Town, as they were already being offered in Durban and Johannesburg.