Personal message

My name is Nonhlanhla Siwela, a young black woman from Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal. My lifelong aspiration has been to ignite positive change within my community. Throughout my academic journey, I earned an academic scholarship at St John’s DSG, excelling academically and engaging in numerous extracurricular activities.

These activities ranged from leading in public speaking and debates, heading social awareness clubs, to chairing GenerationWe, a non-profit uniting head prefects for social change. My initiatives, like the Dignity Drive, collected 2000+ sanitary towels to combat period poverty in KwaZulu-Natal. I held roles as Prefect, part of the Representative Council of Learners, and received recognition for academic achievements.

Entering the medical field at the University of Witwatersrand, I maintained academic excellence, earning Golden Key recognition and Dean’s List in my first year. I explored my writing talent, winning scholarships and publishing a poetry anthology, "The Rainbow Nation is Black." Despite these accomplishments, by the end of 2023, I faced overwhelming debt due to tuition fees.

My inspiration, my disabled sister "Precious," led me on this path. Her medical bills strained my family, redirecting her care to a government facility. Balancing medical school with our financial challenges has been mentally taxing, exacerbated by my father's struggles as our primary breadwinner amidst economic difficulties since 2022.

I leveraged social media, gaining a substantial following by sharing passionate videos advocating for social discourse and justice, particularly for women and girls in a country where gender-based violence is normalized. In 2023, I served on various committees and as a mentor, showcasing my commitment beyond academics.

However, financial strain threatens to derail my dreams. As a black woman pursuing higher education, financial barriers loom large. I urgently seek assistance for my upcoming academic year, as my father's resources are depleted. Student loans pose a daunting prospect, having been declined by NSFAS and facing uncertain scholarship responses.

Your support could bridge this financial gap and help me pursue my goal of graduating as Dr. Siwela in 2026. Donations towards my fees for the 2024 academic year would be immensely appreciated. My dreams and aspirations hinge on this support, and I earnestly seek any help possible.

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