Over 80 tertiary students from poor households doing their
first year at various South African learning institutions received laptops at
the weekend donated by Zimbabwean company Zororo-Phumulani to help with their
studies.
South African-based funeral insurance and repatriation
service provider Zororo-Phumulani runs an annual programme to assist needy
students.
The students from the University of Johannesburg, Wits
Universit, Tshwane University of Technology and the University of KwaZulu-Natal
received new laptops under an iniative that Zororo-Phumulani's founder and
chief executive Edwin Anderson said was inspired by "fees must fall"
protests a few years ago demanding affordable tertiary education for all.
“We are doing this because as a company we believe so much
in youth development and empowerment and there is not better way of doing this
but through education and sports," Anderson said.
“We know by donating these laptops it will not take away
all the problem students face at the university, but it will definitely reduce
pressure that comes with studying at a higher level."
Zimbabwe's ambassador to South Africa David Hamadziripi
commended Zororo-Phumulani for extending its generosity for three consecutive
years.
“I wish to commend you ... for not only your consistency in
the laptop giving initiative but for also increasing the number of recipients.
It is my hope that we will see the same trajectory in the coming years,"
he said.
Recipients included 18-year-old Zimbabwean Ashleigh
Mabaire, a first year student at the University of Johannesburg who is studying
computer science and said getting a laptop had motivated her to work harder.
“I really want to thank the company for giving me this
opportunity and congratulate everyone who received a laptop because I know they
worked really hard and had sleepless nights," Mabaire said.
"One day we want to come back and show the company
what we made from this initiative."
- African News Agency (ANA)
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