NSF international scholarships change lives

The National Skills Fund (NSF) has made scholarships to study in China available to a number of youth South Africans.

All have expressed their appreciation for the opportunity to realise their dreams and to experience a different culture and global perspective.

Busiswa Buso is from the small rural town of Butterworth in the Eastern Cape. Now residing in Gauteng, she tells of how an NSF bursary has charted a new direction for her.

With the help of the NSF bursary, Busiswa obtained her Master’s of Economics in Finance at Zhongnan University of Economics and Law in China.

She reflects on how her experienced has impacted her life.

Thinking and how I view things

“Since going to China I have learned to appreciate my country more than I used to.  And I have now gained the international exposure and learned what they are doing better than we Africans. With that mentality I am eager to transfer the knowledge gained from China, which I believe will be beneficial.

Spirit of Entrepreneurship

When I was still young, my dream was to work for some well-known companies until I came back from China. I realised success is in our hands, all we have to do is to unite, be creative and innovate and promote the spirit of entrepreneurship. The Chinese economy is rapidly growing through entrepreneurship and innovation, which I believe we as Africans can also do.

Dreams

My dream is to change my country to be a better country. I want to promote the spirit of entrepreneurship and use the natural resources we have to boost youth employment.

Thank you

I would like to thank the Department of Higher Education and Training and the NSF for trusting and believing in me. Without them I wouldn’t be where I am with my foreign qualifications. Now I can proudly say I am open-minded, positive and willing to try new things. Thank you a million times again.”

Thamsanqa Mahlobo, born in Durban, is an aspiring young academic and research analyst in the field of Environmental Resource and Development Economics.

In July last year he completed his Master’s degree in Applied Economics at the College of International Trade and Economics at Hunan University in China with a research paper entitled: The Economic Impact of Climate Change: Sugarcane and Adaptation in South Africa.

He has spent the first half of 2016 working at the Durban University of Technology as a lecturer in Environmental Sustainability, a module offered through the Centre of General Education to first year students in the faculty of Management Sciences which comprises 800 students. He will be embarking on his second Master’s degree in Regional and Cultural Studies at Hiroshima University in Japan from August 2016 through the auspices of the Japanese International Corporation Agency’s scholarship and the African Business Education Initiative.

Thamsanqa’s academic background includes:

• Masters in Applied Economics (China)
• Internship at the Centre for Water Management and Climate Change (Vietnam)
• Bachelors Degree of Technology in Business Administration(South Africa)

As a young South African he has spent most of his early 20’s in social movements where skills on transformational leadership were imparted, along with the important role of civil society in progressing a people to the next level of determination, and most importantly how in each and every individual there is a flicker of light no matter its size that wants to stand for justice.

How the bursary changed his life

The bursary and opportunity to study in China through the auspices of DHET and NSF has changed his life in a way that today he is more in sync with himself  as a human being.Living in a world where hurt people are evident in our histories of apartheid and other oppressions means he has been distracted as a young South African from taking fullcognisance of his power as a human being living towards the truth of what makes him beautiful.

“I am proud of my achievement of having dared to face the fear and go to China to live among the people in all the nook and crannies, surviving the deep end of being black and gay in China, striving in grim times, travelling to Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam with very few cents … but with dreams.

“I have met people from all corners of the world. It is amazing that in less than 6 months from being back from China I got a job at the Durban University of Technology as a lecturer in Environmental Sustainability.

My job entails that I teach the four main areas touched in the module namely Environmental Pollution, Population Growth, Climate Change and Sustainable Development in a way that bridges environmental sustainability with the business world.”

Dreams

“Dreamers are wilful and headstrong.  Dreamers have the responsibility to practise the virtue of patience and fortitude, dreamers are people who look for lessons in their timelines. I am glad to mention that I have been selected as an ABE initiative participant to start on my second Master’s degree in Japan from August 2016. In this regard my studies in Japan are focused on regional and cultural studies. I have chosen to do a Master’s degree at Hiroshima University with the Graduate school of International Development and Co-operation where I will research Climate Change and Environmental Policy in Japan and China. The advantage of my research topic and graduate school of choice is that currently in South Africa, Japan, China and other parts of the world more and more businesses are taking into consideration the need to consider environmental policies.

At the end of the day when I am out there in the world as a professor, an activist at the forefront of non-governmental organisations, or a friend to a vegan tree-hugger and gay child, or  a brother and uncle or in whichever sphere of influence I may find myself, what I want to be doing is imparting progressive and academically informed ideas of the kind of leadership and governance our world needs.

Thank you

“I wish that the NSF continues to open the eyes of young South Africans to their beauty that goes beyond our shores that indeed proves we can change the world. What the NSF has done for me through  financial support is to make it possible for me to shine my light  in my little corner and be part of transformation in South Africa particularly in the context of higher education .

Thank you, NSF, may you continue to be a force to be reckoned with in the project of transforming South Africa to a brighter future, to a place where young South Africans rise up to their beauty and opportunities available to them.”

Masemene Malebo completed her undergraduate degree at Rhodes University, followed by an Honour’s degree in International Relations at the University of Pretoria.

She was then awarded a scholarship to Jilin University, China where she graduated with a Master’s Degree in International Relations.

The bursary has given her the opportunity to further her education and to travel outside of South Africa. She is now considering studying towards her PhD.

“Thank you, NSF, for the opportunity and continue empowering the youth of South Africa.”

Kerillyn Padarath  was awarded a scholarship to the Central South UniversityXiangya School of Medicine and graduated with an MBBS.

She is from Durban and had always known her career path. Having matriculated with the required credits, she was however unable to secure a place to study towards her dream profession (MBCHB) in South Africa.  This indeed presented an opportunity for her to seek an alternative to achieve this goal.

“The bursary awarded to me by the DHET, firstly, relieved the financial burden of my chosen field of study which was heavy on me and my family. It also offered me an opportunity to experience another culture and learn a new language… something I would not have previously have been able to do.  Having lived and studied in China for six years, I was given the opportunity to work with and learn from extraordinary people from all over the world. My university is affiliated with Yale and I had the opportunity of working with research professors and acquiring innovative skills from them. I also experienced the Chinese medical environment which was very different from our medical system.

“Everyday, from living on campus, I had the opportunity of interacting with people from different countries, learning about their cultures, which is something that has now helped me to relate to expats. I was given the opportunity to expand my level of knowledge, compassion and kindness towards all people.”

Kerillyn wishes to continue her studiesby attaining a PhD in orthopaedic surgeryin South Africa but also to pay it forward as often as she is able to.

“The key from the DHET/NSF bursary is opportunity. I am forever grateful for the endless opportunities that I was afforded; for not only assisting me towards my goal but also the care and concern that was provided to me by staff.  To each and everyone a heartfelt thank you.”

Octavia Motshwane is from Brits North-West and obtained her B Com degree at Wits University. In 2013, she was appointed as an intern at the Department of Higher Education and Training. During her first week of work, she applied for the opportunity to study in China and in four months, was on her way to further her studies.

“This bursary has provided me with a lifetime of memories, an opportunity to study in another country and today I have a Master’s Degree (MSE in Financial Economics) from the Shanghai University of Finance and Economics.

I am now ready to find a permanent role in the financial industry. I am ready to climb the corporate ladder, to learn to be a manager in 3 years and a CFO in the long run.

I appreciate the NSF and the team that took great care of us abroad. The communication was on point and I would ask a lot of questions yet someone would always be there to answer. Thank you for all the support. God bless you, team.”

Sharissa Muniappen obtained an MMBS, Bachelor of Clinical Medicine at Central South University, China. Her dream was to be a doctor but she was not accepted at a South African university.

The bursary changed her life. Now that her first dream is realised, she is set to become a specialist in Neurology.

“No words would ever be able to express my utmost gratitude to the NSF. Thank you for investing in my future and for helping me to realise my dream.”