“The Reading Seed has given me the feet to stand on, now all I need is to run once I’m done.”
Earlier this month, the team at The Reading Seed caught up with Siphokazi Mzilikazi to discuss how she is currently feeling continuing with her second year of training in her studies.
Siphokazi is very positive about what she has achieved so far and her confidence has truly blossomed. Before Siphokazi was offered the opportunity to be apart of the The Further Studies Scholarship project she lacked a lot of confidence and had no real direction of where she wanted her life to go. We feel so amazed to see the difference in her attitude now and her outlook on the world. She is understanding more what her education means to her future, her family and all the children at The Village.
Recently Siphokazi had an examination to finalise a course unit. She scored a huge 28/30! The amount of time and effort she has putting into her studies is paying off.
Let’s hear Siphokazi’s words…
about your course going into your second year?
my second year.
and am ready to start with waxing.
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| Siphokazi during class, practising on a fellow student. |
I can’t wait to go
out and work.
are making the most of the opportunity you have been given by The Reading Seed
support?
By studying hard, so
that I pass all my modules and that I don’t waste The Reading Seed‘s financial
support and my time. I study every day for two hours after I have put the
little ones to bed (this is only on the days that I go to college) on the
other days when I’m at home I do laundry while studying until the children come
home from school. I voluntarily help the children with their homework and I put
them to bed. On weekends I help the kids to catch up with their school work or
studying , while I’m studying too.
‘change’ your life? How?
skilled and can join the work force soon as I am gaining experience by
practising on the village children and staff. I don’t have to go back to a life of poverty
because I am now educated and skilled. The Reading Seed has given me the feet to
stand on, now all I need is to run once I’m done. I will be independent and don’t have to ever
rely on anyone and this means I won’t be poor ever again because I will be
skilled.
about having a career?
It makes me feel powerful and I feel like I’m ready to go
out there and earn a living. It makes me
feel great when I have done a manicure and pedicure and people start to tell
how beautiful I have made their hands and feet look. It makes me feel like I have achieved a lot
and that I can still achieve so much more.
do for you and your family?
cycle of poverty. I have seen that since I have started to study that it has
motivated my brothers to do something with their lives and both of them have
found jobs.
any ways this opportunity has made you become a role model for the other
children in The Village? How?
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| Zinhle is enjoying Siphokazi practise on her! |
I am studying what I like and enjoy. They have seen how
happy I am when I work with their feet and hands. They are all are motivated and interested
with what I do and in that way I’m showing them that studying is fun.
your study or your life that you would like to share with The Reading Seed
supporters?
would not have been able to give me. I come from family of two brothers and a deceased mother.
She died in 2004 (of AIDS) when I was a vulnerable 12 year old.
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| Milly (The Village mother) gets a well deserved pedi! |
she cared for me until now. We have
bonded so much that I see her as my biological mother. I see no difference in
colour skin, eye or hair. She is just my mother and she is the best mother in
the world. J
further my education.
you wish to make?
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| For homework Siphokazi gives pedicures and manicures to the staff and children at The Village. These are their comments!
One cannot help but feel inspired and motivated by Siphokazi. She has true potential to change her life and is very appreciative of how she has reached this point. Siphokazi is a great role model for many!
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