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Each year SAEP provides a
"gap year" program for a group of recent township high school graduates
who can profit from a year in which they can improve their basic skills
(including computer, English language, and life skills), study to
rewrite their "matric" exams and improve their chances of university
admission, and explore their options for further education or training
and careers.
This year the gap year
program is sponsored by a grant from The Campbell Foundation of
Portland, Oregon. This grant will continue in 2008 and 2009.
SAEP thanks Cindy and Duncan Campbell for their encouragement and
generous financial support.
This is the fifth year
of SAEP's gap year program. Here are our interns for 2007:
Ayanda Mbebe
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My name is Ayanda Mbebe, and I
live in Samora Machel with my younger sister. My sister is in grade
9 at Zisukhanyo high. We don’t have either of our parents, and we
are only left with our grandmother who stays with my aunt in Khayelitsha.
I passed my matric in 2004 at
Zisukhanyo High School. In 2005, I studied Electrical Engineering at CPUT, but due to lack of financial support and family problems,
I had to drop out and find a job. |
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Since then I worked until I joined
SAEP in 2007. I have been involved with SAEP since I was at school,
where I was the member of the MST (Maths, Science and Technology club).
I also have been on many hikes which were organized by SAEP. The reason
why I joined SAEP is because I want to refresh my mind so that I can be
able further my education next year (2008).
My ambitions are to become an
Electrical Engineer. I was dreaming of becoming an Electrical Engineer
since I was in grade 9. Some of the reasons why I like this field are
because I like Maths and Science, and also because I’m always curious to
know why electrical appliances work the way they do. |
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Augustine Tsira
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My name is Augustine Tsira. I was
born in 1987 in Mowbray hospital in Cape Town. I come from a family of 7
people: my mother, my stepfather, 2 brothers, and 2 sisters.
I matriculated last year from
Sinethemba High School. I was studying Maths, Physics, Biology,
Afrikaans, English and Xhosa.
At school, I was involved in
debating for almost 4 years. In 2005, I qualified to represent the
Western Cape in the national debating tournament. I also participated in
poetry sessions after school with SAEP. |
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My dream is to study law and become a
lawyer. I have chosen to be a Gap Year Intern at SAEP because I want to
improve my mathematics ability, my English, and my physical science and
computer skills. I hope to milk all the knowledge I can get and to share
it with other people out there, especially those in disadvantaged areas. |
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Zinzi Zenile
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I'm Zinzi Zenile. I'm 21 years old. I live in
Gugulethu with my uncle, aunt and two cousins. I was born in Cape
Town and I have one sister and two brothers. Last
year, I was doing Grade 12 at Oscar Mpetha High School, where I
passed my matric. |
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I have come to SAEP for the opportunity to upgrade my subjects
because my symbols were not good enough. I appreciate that SAEP provides
us with recourses for transportation and food so that we can focus on
our studies. I am studying Maths, Physical Science, Biology and English.
In my community, I am busy with children through the Girl Guides, as
well as teaching music and drama with the SAEP Arts Programme.
I am interested in a career in becoming a social worker because I
enjoy communicating with people and helping them. |
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Mongamo Tyhala
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My name is Mongamo Tyhala. I was born in 1987 in Richmond Cape. Currently,
I live in Nyanga East in Cape Town with my single mother and
three-year-old brother.
I passed matric in 2005 at Oscar Mpetha High School and I passed with
an endorsement with merit. During matric, I was a character in a
documentary film, "Life in Grade 12." In 2006, I went to study at Cape
Peninsula Tech for civil engineering, but found it was not my passion.
My dream is to study Maths at UCT in
2008. Through my gap year at SAEP, I hope to get to know myself more and
improve my language ability, maths and physics. |
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Neliswa "Nash" Thubela
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My name is Neliswa Thubela, though people
often call me Nash. I live in Philippi with a family of four
members. I attended Immaculata Girls High in Wnyberg. After I
matriculated in 2005, I did a course at Rosebank College in Hotel
and Tourism Reception. I love meeting new people. This year I
chose to be an intern at SAEP because I want to improve my studies.
I will also be helping out in the township schools with
creative writing and drama.
At SAEP, I will be learning more computer skills, English,
Biology and Business Economics. I would like to study tourism, or
public relations in the future. |
Tulisa Magaqana
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My name is Tulisa Magaqana. I was born in Cape Town on 22 April 1989. I
live with my mom, sister and my son, Phila, in Philippi. I matriculated
in 2006 at Intsebenziswano high school and hoped to study at CPUT, but
because of financial problems, I couldn't. Then, my teacher brought me
to SAEP, where I can improve my studies like Maths, Business Economics,
and computer skills. |
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I want to become an internal auditor
or cost management accountant because I want to work at the Department
of Treasury and earn a good salary.
My hobbies are reading and
socializing with my friends. Here at SAEP I am helping other
township schools with drama and English. |
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