“When you learn, teach. When you get, give.” — Maya Angelou

You may recall this bright smile, belonging to Mariska Goliath, an Anna Foundation scholarship pupil in Grade 10 at Hoërskool Stellenbosch (Stellenbosch High School). Mariska hopes to study Sport Science after she graduates. With school education moving online due to nationwide lockdown extensions, many South African pupils have found themselves shut out from further learning, due to lack of access to computer technology and/or a reliable internet connection in their homes.[1] While this was initially the case for Mariska, we are so pleased to have been able to supply her with a laptop, and the Foundation has committed to covering her mobile data costs until schools re-open. Although she has a few weeks of catching up to do, we are delighted that she is finally able to get connected and carry on with her school work.

We were able to hand over the laptop when we delivered food provision from the Foundation to Mariska’s family and their farm community. It was heart-warming for us to watch Mariska in action – enthusiastically taking on the task of handing out provisions to each family within her community, demonstrating her willingness to pay it forward!

Mariska has always said to us that one day she would like to volunteer at a charity, or even start her own charity that focuses on getting children who may have dropped out of school, back into school, and mentoring and supporting them towards a successful career path. We are already proud of the young woman that Mariska has become and we know that she is going to be go places… watch this space!

[1] Most recent statistics showed that only one tenth of South Africans were able to access internet in their homes.