I remember clearly the first time I met him. I was at the lift of my flat in Hillbrow in the early 90s and I heard a shuffle of people behind me. Within an instant all the hair at the back of my neck stood up and I knew that someone extraordinary had entered the building, I turned around and looked directly into warm smiling eyes. I promised him I would not wash my hands for a week after shaking his hands, that promise lasted for a few hours but the promise I made in my heart when he passed on ~ a promise to always serve people, a promise to try harder for those who dont have the strength to try for themselves, a promise to try in some small way to change my circle of influence and to live up to the privilege of being born in his era ~ is a promise I will always keep. Its the reason that I work at the SABC Foundation. This week I stood at his home in Qunu, so beautiful yet so simple, almost understated for the home of the greatest Statesman of our times. So befitting of him, nothing opulent or loud, palatial yes but certainly not ostentatious. One of the things I was there for was to hand over a bursary for a young herd boy who passed his matric with 4 Distinctions. He lives in a hut on a hill, supported by his grandmother, he walks some 14kms daily to and from school and after he gets back home, his chores include herding cattle for others to earn some money for his family. Not playing playstation or Xbox or chilling on the corner with friends. Cattle herding! Did I mention he got 4 distinctions from a school with no library or access to internet or other resources! We found him through the DoE as he was one of the Top Achievers for the Eastern Cape! The SABC sponsored him to the tune of R300 000 over 3 years to study anything of his choice anywhere. He chose to study Accounting and work towards being a Chartered Accountant. A herd boy from the EC? Ja neh! Students asked me at his school how can they also get such an extraordinary opportunity. My answer was simple, that someone that worked as hard as Hlumelelo did, by candlelight with little food and no resources or access to a computer could get 4 distinctions, anyone could. A shy boy, small in build, almost scrawny but it was the sheer size of his determination to succeed that created a light so bright that allowed us to find him and support his dreams ~ to make something of himself, to be able to make something of his family and shine the spotlight on his Community. Vodacom gave away computers and ipads and connected the Internet at his school, just because of a little guy named Hlumelo. He has already started changing his world. I wept with joy and pride! Parents hear me when I say this, especially those whose children are in matric this year. No matter where you are or how poor you are, if your child applies themselves this year, every single day, and achieves 4 or more distinctions, then their light will also be seen and they too will take the stage at the Matric Announcements and they too can become anything they dream of, their light will change your circumstances. Bursaries are no longer for the elite few, they are there for all who deserve them and want them badly enough. YOU as the parent can help them achieve this! Driving home through the suburbs yesterday from the airport with Mica and picking up Tristen from school, we passed these teenagers walking home in their uniforms, smoking a hubbly bubbly in the street. The stark contrast between our kids with all their opportunities that they flush down the drain and Hlumelo who had no opportunities at all, struck such a deep chord within me. I salute you Hlumelo, my herd boy from the EC, you are going to change your world just like you promised me this week, just like your predecessor Nelson Mandela promised and did. You Hlumelo, just like Tata, was born ordinary but it was your actions and your determination, to live for something bigger than yourself, that has made you an extraordinary human being. Go change your world little Hlumelo, you Braveheart you! Heres to the Matric Class of 2015! Tell yourself everyday that you can and because you believe it, you will!
Posted on: Fri, 23 Jan 2015 08:05:02 +0000
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