“When people are determined, they overcome anything”. – Nelson Mandela
Resilience can be defined as the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties and exhibiting toughness.
It is with the assurance of the resilience at work in our 50 Siyandisa Foundation Scholarship Recipients of 2020 currently writing their final matric exams across South Africa, that I as Scholarship Programme Coordinator believe they will show that they have overcome the obstacles that the Covid-19 pandemic may have put in their paths.
Amid this global disaster, this year’s recipients are part of the highest ever number of South African matriculants that have registered to write their final school exams,0 that commenced on 5 November 2020. A historical 1, 058, 699 matriculants are now writing their matric exams across the country with this year’s group of Scholarship Recipients being able to count on thorough preparation with the aid of the Siyandisa Foundation’s high-quality academic material and support that has been provided throughout 2020.
Although it has been a difficult year in which to finish matric and embark on exams that hold the key to each learner’s future, we are thankful that we could support our Scholarship Recipients in their steady climb to the top. Maximising the academic assistance the Siyandisa Foundation Scholarship Programme provides, along with the support through intensified efforts from educators and schools, our matriculants have attended classes until late in the day during the week and sacrificed weekends to ensure that they have covered all the work needed to prepare for their upcoming examinations. Taking into account that they have had to adapt to new methods of learning, which includes the incremental shift from face-to-face teaching to online platforms their discipline and commitment is commendable and deserves a special note of congratulations.
“During lockdown, I was going through a lot. I could do very little school work due to stress, and when my Siyandisa Foundation package arrived it changed everything. I was able to watch the videos that are provided and which covered work and topics we had not done yet because we could not go to school. I was also able to access the internet with the data provided, I used data to download old question papers and to search for extra resources to help me understand the work better. By the time we were back at school, I was ahead of the other learners. Siyandisa Foundation has provided us with great resources but also gave me hope that better days lie ahead and my year turned out better because of all you have done for me”, said Xoliswa Didishem a 2020 Scholarship Recipient from Technical High School Kimberley in the Northern Cape.
Another recipient from Gawula Village in Limpopo, shared that despite a challenging family situation she always works hard towards her goals. Adeleaide Mabunda said,” I am an ambitious person with bigger dreams. I always study hard to maintain the standard of being the top learner in my school, and my wish is to become one of the top best learners in South Africa for this academic year 2020. I always strive to get highest marks in my exams and getting 85% and above have become a habit to me. I always aim high and I have even set the highest targets in my subjects, so that I will be determined in reaching my targets. Even during these challenging times, I am determined - and thanks to Siyandisa Foundation I believe I will achieve my goals.”
We can say with confidence to our learners that after having prepared so hard for their final exams, this occasion brings the opportunity to cash in on all the hours of their smart work, and shine once their results are out..
We encourage all matriculants to continue to observe strict health and safety protocols during the exams and wish them all the very best of luck for the final stretch.