Ubuntu Education Fund

We were delivering the monthly groceries , funded by our Education Fund, for the two school children and their indigent mother in Loskop last week. These are special children to us, as they are the last of the Agathos/Kwethu kids to whom we've promised support toward an independent future.

I was surprised to find teenager Kwanele with cement splashes on his arms, and flecks in his hair, with a huge smile on his face. He was  proud of  his plastering job, covering hard dirt patches of floor between old cracked cement patches in his bedroom and then, the kitchen. The tiny kitchen of the house he shares with his sister and mother slants toward the door, furnished with decrepit table and ancient cupboards, caked with old dirt. " I got tired of the messy floor. I asked 'gogo' ( his grandmother) for cement to plaster the walls and floors of our house." he smiled broadly.  I looked around and  asked, "Have you done this before?" 

He shakes his head no and indeed, I wondered how long the cement would last. That didn't seem as important as his initiative.  I was impressed and think to myself. Kwanele is making some good choices.

What's different in his life from two years ago? Ubuntu Education Fund, your donations, has been  supporting him,  the main goal being  to influence this young man's choices towards success. This year, he was encouraged by the supportive school principal, to drop back to Grade 11, so he has a better chance to pass Grade 12 in 2026. It was a hard decision, as he had to leave all his friends. His mentor, Mem Mbongwa, counseled him, "It s time for you to think about yourself and what is best for YOU!"  That choice led to his making a choice to move away from his family, mom and sister. He will live at the Kwethu Independent Dorm under the wing of Mr and Mrs Mbongwa next year. UPEF will continue to fund him.

One good choice led to another, and today  this plastering, rough as it was sent me a wonderful message: I am confident, II am proud of what I can try,  and I can help my family by my choices.

We are so thankful to have your support with donations that have made a turning point moment in this young man's life.

We'll keep you plastered, oops, posted.