Communicare tenant, Tanita Koen, has grasped the opportunity to upskill herself through Vulamathuba Empumelelo Bursary Fund (VEBF).

Thanks to the Vulamathuba Skills Development Programme and Bursary Fund, she is pursuing a Bookkeeping Qualification.

Tanita completed her Matric, but her family could not afford higher education. “Unfortunately, my family wasn’t well off, so studying after high school wasn’t an option. I had started working while still at school and I just went straight into the working environment after Matric”.

The following years were not kind to her either. She experienced years of abuse before deciding to make a move with her two daughters.

Since moving, Tanita has been exposed to a sense of community. “My kids’ dad passed away two years ago. I am a single parent, and so, failing cannot be an option for me”. The Bursary Fund came when Tanita was yearning for further growth in her life.

The advert came at the same time as an opening at her workplace was available and she was being considered for a promotion, “At my complex, it advertised that Vulamathuba is offering a bursary, and at that time, one of our administrators/bookkeepers at work had just resigned. I was given the opportunity to apply for the position if I was willing to do a course in Bookkeeping”.

“Being a recipient of this bursary has taken the financial stress away. I would encourage anyone serious about improving themselves to apply – you have nothing to lose and so much to gain from this. Whether you want to get your Matric certificate or tertiary education, take that first step and apply, no matter how scary it may be, don’t let it stop you”.

To women, especially single mothers who are thinking of studying further, Tanita says, “If you get the opportunity to better yourself for your children, go at it full steam. It may not always be where you end up, but it could open many more doors for you that you didn’t know were there.  That’s what makes this opportunity that Vulamathuba gives us so exciting – scary, but exciting”.

Anyone interested in applying for the Vulamathuba Empumelelo Bursary Fund can click here or e-mail applications@vulamathuba.co.za for more information. Applications close on 30 November 2022.