St Stithians and Thandulwazi Change Lives

Mahlogonolo Maredi is a student of the Thandulwazi Intern-Teacher Training Programme. Read her story, in her own words, below.

Born 14th of June 1994 in a small village in Limpopo. I never thought I would be blessed so abundantly. I went through lots of storms and here is my story; a true testimony of how St Stithians changes lives.

My mother, Makgethwa Margaret Maredi fell pregnant and my grandmother sent her home, to “her” grandmother, to assist her with her maternity. She was a first year student when her life changed. My father was never part of my life. As soon as summer approached in 1994, my mother had to return to Dannilton because then I was a few months old and she was comfortable doing so. Dannilton is a big town consisting of several villages and farms. My grandmother and grandfather lived there with their four children, my mother included. My mom’s family was very supportive in terms of raising me and adapting to having a new member in their family. I was loved dearly by everyone and so my mother returned to school to finish her marketing diploma in Braamfontein.

My grandparents went through a divorce and that split the “happy family” apart. My mother had to drop out at some stage and became a merchandiser at Pick n’ Pay in Lonehill to survive. As heart-breaking as the divorce may sound, it brought me and my grandmother together. My uncles and my aunt had to find their way in life. My grandmother and I were “homeless”, we moved from one family member to the next. She went through depression and ulcers destroyed her slowly. I had to be strong for her, despite the stressful change that was taking place in our lives. We kept the love going; my grandmother is maternal, and she is strong and shared wisdom all the time. She taught me values and morals. She taught me responsibility, and all that comes with being kind to other people. She taught me how to read and write way before I went to pre-school. We spent much time together. We cooked, baked, read books and we crafted most of our furniture. She contributed so much to the person I am today.

I went to three different primary schools due to the unstable life caused by the divorce of my grandparents. Regardless of that situation, I did well at school. In all the three schools I went to I left a legacy. I did not stay for long in any of these schools but I made memories: in Grade 2 I received an award for neatness in handwriting; in Grade 3 I was the class prefect for the entire year; and in Grade 7 I received an award for distinctions for school leavers. I spent Grades 6 to 9 at All Nations Christian School in our Village at Moloto, in Mpumalanga, Kwa-Ndebele.

My life took a turn in 2010 when I moved from a small village, away from my grandmother to Ivory Park. I enrolled at Eqinisweni Secondary School for my FET phase in Ivory Park, a densely populated residential area in the east of Johannesburg. It is an informal settlement and life there is pretty fast. I found it hard to survive. Life without my grandmother was tough. I hadn’t spent much time with my mother. My mother moved to Ivory Park after my stepfather passed. We lived in a small, cramped shack at my grandmother’s cousin backyard. My mother could barely afford to buy food; luckily there was a feeding scheme at school. We lived on that and really did not mind. All that I wanted was to get to matric and start a life of my own.

My mother’s best friend works for Sodexo in the school and had a conversation with my mother about the Saturday School classes offered by Thandulwazi. As tough as life was, my mother strove for me to have taxi fare to get to St Stithians for extra lessons. Growing up, I always knew that I wanted to be part of the system that changed the world. I always thought that I would make a brilliant teacher. In 2012 while I was in Matric, I heard about the Thandulwazi Intern-Teacher Training Programme and applied.

My uncles and other family members assisted me financially to apply at various Universities and I was accepted, but I looked at my options and I remember asking the Almighty to guide my decision – I was so confused I did not know what was best. I thought going to varsity and being a full time student was the best option, until I sat down with a pen and paper and jotted down all the advantages and disadvantages of that option. I realised I would be exposed to “danger”. Looking at my situation then, my mother could barely afford to buy food, nevermind clothes to wear and a neat hairstyle. I think I heard God whispering, “Relax, I got your back child” because I soon stopped worrying about my future. I received a call for my second interview. I remember receiving a call from Mrs Mngambi informing me that I was hired. The amount of joy and excitement I experienced was overwhelming.

“St Stithians College is a superior experience. A girl who was born in Limpopo, who went to school in Ivory Park would feel inferior half the time she is in this environment” – these words lived with me in my first year, I was highly anxious. I thought people who are fortunate would look down on me, I thought that I would be made to feel isolated. Surprising enough, I felt like I belonged. My mentor, Mrs Claire Eskinazi was amazing. She nurtured me and brought the best out of me. She was a constant reminder that St Stithians chose me because they saw potential.

Being here has changed my thinking and my perspective. My life has changed entirely, my dreams are bigger and my thinking is even bigger. I keep wondering where I would be if I had taken a “wrong turn”.  I wouldn’t have unleashed my potential at all. I am doing so well in my studies. I wouldn’t have known how important is it to carry your values as you grow. Truth is, I outgrew them during my stay in Ivory Park.

The Boys’ Prep themes of the week serve as reminders of all the values my grandmother raised me with. My mother is currently studying to be a Grade 0 teacher and is looking to assist with child minder jobs while she completes her course, and I am in my final year of my B.Ed. I am highly motivated to carry on with my studies. The idea of enrolling for my honours is exciting. Everything has just fallen into place.

I raise my hand up high and salute Thandulwazi in partnership with St Stithians College for changing my life.