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Rising Young Scholar
Eulender Mbetsi is an exceptionally bright and hard working 15 year old girl from the village of Rooiboklaagte. She was doing well in secondary school, but the quality of education available at her local school was inadequate, severely limiting her to be able to pass the national matriculation exam at the end of high school, and thus to follow her dream of going on to college. A Spanish family, who is working in the area, offered her accomdation and support in their home, if the funds could be raised to send her to Southern Cross School, a very highly regarded, eco-oriented private school in Hoedspruit. A group of committed donors from the U.S., Seeds of Light, and Southern Cross School joined to provide a scholarship for Eulander and she was admitted in January of 2009.
After her first six months at Southern Cross School all reports on Eulender’s progress are very positive. Mrs. Anderson, Eulender's English teacher, said how miraculous it is for a child to come to a school that demands her 3rd and 4th languages and to succeed. Eulender was raised speaking Tsonga and was taught in Tsotho so English and Afrikaans were a whole new world for her when she began school in Janurary. She is now 9th in her class of 20 and Mrs. Anderson reported that she has never seen a child work as hard and as consistently as Eulender.
The Spanish family with whom she lives during the school days is a wonderful support. Their oldest daughter, Sonia, and Eulander are in the same class so they work together, and Montsa, the mother, marshalls her three children plus Eulender with grace. She is a tireless advocate, driver, organizer, supporter, and friend. Eulender has taken the support given to her and utilized it in a way that is inspirational. It will be a joy to watch her growth.
Seeds of Light, along with private donors, are committed to seeing Eulender through the completion of high school. She hopes to become a doctor and serve as a medical provider in her community. We are very proud of her accomplishments!
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Two Receive Educational Scholarships—
Two Exceptional Success Stories
Given Michael Sambo (left) and his brother Joseph E. Thobela (right) were born and raised in Tulamahashe, a village contained within the greater Acornhoek area. They were raised by their aunt in extreme poverty, while their mother worked in Johannesburg to support the family. They have both spoken of their aunt as an extremely “good mother”, to whom they and their other, younger siblings were completely devoted.
Both Given and his brother Joseph have been sponsored by Seeds of Light in developing careers for themselves. Given has been studying psychology and sociology at the University of Limpopo and recently graduated with a four-year degree (thanks in large part to the generosity of The Lufkin Family Foundation). He is planning to continue his education and to earn a Masters degree, which Seeds of Light is sponsoring. We will also be employing him to develop a humanitarian project to serve people in his home village while he takes his courses.
Joseph E. Thobela studied to be an Electrical Engineer through a correspondence course, while working as a night guard at the gate of a housing development where Seeds of Light’s center is located. When it became time for him to take the “practical” courses for which he needed to be physically present, Seeds of Light paid for his lodging and tuition. He soon qualified with exceptional grades and now works in Johannesburg with an electrical engineering company.
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