A commitment to increase access to education for young children in marginalised communities in South Africa has earned Lebo Sekhotla – a third-year student at Monash South Africa (MSA) – global recognition for her work.
The psychology and management student was recently awarded the international “Here for Good” award by the chairman and CEO of Laureate International Universities, Douglas Becker. The ceremony held in Miami, was attended by higher education leaders from around the world and other dignitaries.
Sekhotla developed a motivational programme for Grade 9 pupils from nearby communities designed to give them life skills, confidence, and career guidance they need to stay in school, apply to university, and contribute to their communities. The school learner programme, “Tomorrow starts Today,” assists and inspires numerous pupils from local community schools while helping with necessary life and computer skills to equip them for tertiary education. The programme is carried out at the MSA campus.
The student said a local pastor and his wife encouraged her to join a community organisation where she regained confidence, learned computer skills and eventually became an instructor herself.
“It was the first time I realised I could make a difference,” she added.
When Sekhotla began the “Tomorrow starts Today” programme, MSA agreed to provide transportation for Grade 9 pupils to come to the campus every Saturday, provide access to classrooms and computers, additional career counselling and a healthy lunch. Close to 100 students have benefited from the initiative to date.
“I’ve seen how my own experience has impacted my sisters and my cousins and how much more motivated they are to continue their studies. It’s made me realise that if you educate one person, you educate the whole family, and the whole community becomes transformed,” Sekhotla enthused.
Esther Benjamin, CEO of Monash South Africa, said the volunteer programmes also offer MSA students great learning and growth opportunities and help develop them as leaders.
“We are so proud of Lebo and the work she and her fellow students commit to each week, in order to inspire the youth in our local community. Community engagement is very much a part of our DNA, we see it as a vital part of the educational and student experience on our campus – to connect and engage our students with the communities around us.”
According to Benjamin, in 2014 they had 650 students complete 15 000 hours of tutoring, benefiting pupils in 50 schools.
The “Here for Good” award, recognises the social impact of students from across the Laureate network, in 29 countries.
