We’ll never know whether it was fate, luck or divine intervention, but we can be sure that the R25 000 study bursary that Lesego Msiza from Tshwaraganang Children’s Home in Hammanskraal won on the University of Pretoria’s (UP’s) Open Day on Saturday, 23 May was meant to be.

‘It was really such a coincidence that things worked out this way,’ said Aneena Antony, a second-year medical student who is a volunteer for Project JJ, a registered student society involved in community projects in different areas. ‘A number of our volunteers each brought a group of matric learners to UP’s Open Day to expose them to the opportunities offered by the University. Lesego wasn’t even supposed to be in my group, but she joined others from the children’s home. While I was helping them with applicant forms for funding, I noticed the forms for the bursary draw. It was about 15 minutes before the draw was supposed to take place in the Amphitheatre and we were on the other side of the campus, but everybody in the group quickly completed their forms and we ran all the way to the Amphi, where we put them into the box just in time,’ an excited Antony explained.

And then Lesego’s name was announced!

‘Now I have a chance to study Social Work at UP. I completed matric at Sikhululekile High School in Hammanskraal in 2013 and applied for admission to UP, but I am an orphan and there was no money to pay for my studies. I stayed on at Tshwaraganang – a home for orphans and needy children – to help taking care of the younger children,’ said the soft-spoken Lesego.

She believes that one should never give up. ‘And now I am one step closer to my dream of one day running my own children’s home to help others like myself. Thank you.’