This is the fourth blog-post from Nicolin Mamuya, the first ESOMAR Foundation scholarship in South Africa.

It’s the final term of my three year degree and I am counting down the days. September has been the busiest month I have had this whole year with the assignments and never-ending tests. The pressure only continues to grow. The idea of actually finishing my degree makes me imagine life after school. I am already used to living alone which means that the only thing that I have to adapt to after school is the work life and the responsibility of paying my own bills. I cannot wait to be able to fully take care of myself without having to depend on anyone. I think I’ll go on a shopping spree with my first pay check. Something to reward myself for the hard work and consistency I maintained throughout my academic career.

Sadly, the chances of finishing my degree this year are looking a bit blurry due to the recent student protests that have been occurring in South Africa. The students are pleading for free education as poor students are being excluded from universities. The protests are turning violent and are disrupting academic schedules. Many universities are having discussions on possibly ending the academic program for the remainder of the year and resuming in the beginning of next year. I really hope that does not happen as this delays everything.

I do feel sorry for the students being excluded for their inability to pay school fees, because I believe that if someone has the intellectual capacity to further their education then money should not be the impediment that prevents the person from reaching academic success. However, I do not support the violence that accompanies these protests. Other students are being forced out of lecture halls during classes, school property is being burnt and destroyed and the protestors are threatening the lives of students who choose to go to school instead of joining the protests. This leaves many of us afraid to even go to school, because of the fear that we might get hurt.

I can honestly only see things getting worse because South Africa is not in the right state to provide free education. I can only hope to finish my degree this year.

meet-nicolin-via-video

The scholarship awarded to Nicolin was sponsored by SSI and in collaboration with SAMRA.

If you want to support the ESOMAR Foundation and people like Nicolin in having the opportunity to study and pursuing a career in market research…participate the to ESOMAR Foundation charity prize draw today!

This is the third blog-post from Nicolin Mamuya, the first ESOMAR Foundation scholarship in South Africa.

08 July, 2016

I am in Tanzania right now and I must say the weather is perfect. Not too hot and not cold at all. This is our winter. I’m living in a small village called Kibaha with my aunt Rosina, the woman who took it upon herself to care for my mother. I was never really close my aunt Rosina but my mother’s condition has brought us closer. She owns two primary schools named Treasure Day Care. In 2015 she was voted the best teacher in her district. She mentioned how she never really thought of building a school after retirement however; she was so admired for her intellect by her community that they actually contributed to building her school. In other words, the community decided that she would have a school.

My mom on the other hand is improving. She has already started walking with a walking stick. The doctor is working on mobilising her left arm. Being there, I try my best to help her exercise the side affected. The process is definitely not easy. She experiences a lot of pain but she understands that the journey to recovery will not be simple. On the bright side, one thing my mom could not stop asking about was the ESOMAR Scholarship I was awarded with. She is so happy and I could tell that she was at ease because she knew everything on my side was going well and I wouldn’t struggle next year.

12 July, 2016

Yesterday we went to visit my grandmother; she also suffered a stroke in 2015. She’s also on her journey to recovery. I am glad she’s still the same old strict grandmother I know her to be. It really feels good to be surrounded by family even though they still treat me like a baby-_-

There is not much to do here besides care for my mom. I offered to assist my aunt Rosina with teaching the school children English but she already had a full staff. Apparently, most of the Unique Women aren’t exactly doing anything back is South Africa. No one is saying anything which means no progress is being made. I am officially starting to get frustrated. Luckily however, one of our members, Trish, visited her previous high school to speak about the Unique Women, our purpose and what we aim to achieve. She also encouraged the pupils to never give up on their goals by emphasising the famous quote “Success is not final and failure is not fatal, it is the courage to continue that counts”. I am so proud of her! I can’t wait to go back so we can actually commence with doing more to build our organisation.

20^th July 2016

My mother always reminds me that I am the only one she really has and that I should continuously work hard in school so that I am able to take care of her. I’d be lying if I said I did not feel the pressure to do well. I feel it from my mom, the rest of my family and the organisations sponsoring me. I mean, you pray for blessings and when God grants them, the responsibility to maintain those falls on you. I remain truly grateful regardless.

 

 

The scholarship awarded to Nicolin was sponsored by SSI and in collaboration with SAMRA.

If you want to support the ESOMAR Foundation and people like Nicolin in having the opportunity to study and pursuing a career in market research…participate the to ESOMAR Foundation charity prize draw today!