“It doesn’t matter who you are, where you come from. The ability to triumph begins with you – always,” serial do-gooder Oprah Winfrey once said.
And this is exactly what two Eastern Cape girls proved and now they are heading to the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls next year.
After a stringent selection process which included assessment tests, interviews and home visits, Linako Sbike, 13, from Africa Angels Independent School in Chintsa East and Kuhle Morongo, 12, from Cambridge Primary School in East London, were accepted into the academy for next year.
The scholarship caters for Grade 8 to 12 pupils. The selected pupils need to be academically talented, must be currently in Grade 7, must have leadership potential, be South African citizens or have permanent residence and their family or household’s total income before deductions must be less than R10,000 per month.
Linako, who shares a five-roomed shack with her parents, younger brother and two cousins, said the opportunity was a dream come true for her and her family. She added she first got to know about the academy through a magazine article she had read.
“When I looked at the picture of the school, I knew I wanted to study there,” she said.
With the help from her school, Linako applied for the scholarship and the rest is history. “I was so happy when I read my acceptance letter,” she said.
Linako’s mom, Nontsikelelo Sbike said she always knew her daughter would make it.
“But I never imagined she would make it this big. She has always performed well at school, had big dreams and aspirations which we supported and now those dreams are beginning to come true,” said Sbike.
Kuhle, who lives in a rented RDP home in Linge township near Mdantsane, lost her father in 2016, three years after her mother lost her job.
“There were hard times, but I never stopped dreaming. I would like to advise others who might find themselves in a similar situation to never stop dreaming and never give up. Anything is possible,” she said.
Kuhle’s unemployed mother, Fikiswa Morongo who is a second-year social science student at the University of Fort Hare, applied for the scholarship for her daughter.
“Kuhle’s life will never be the same again, she has been given an opportunity that even I could never afford to give her,” Morongo said.
Both the schools lauded the girls for the once in a lifetime opportunity.
The founder of African Angels, Lou Billet, said the school was proud of Linako and how hard she had worked to achieve this.
“We want to see her fly at the academy and create her own opportunities for her future,” said Billet.
Kuhle’s teacher, Nicole Vosloo, said Kuhle always portrayed exceptional leadership skills. “I have utmost respect for this kid,” said Vosloo.
Kuhle wants to be an environmental engineer while Linako dreams of becoming a neurologist. The two leave for the academy in Gauteng in January...