Alumni

Unisa alumni enable Mareme Mathosa to graduate

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Mareme Mathosa and his partner, Kholofelo Katjedi

The Unisa Alumni Association has helped 177 Unisa students to graduate in 2022. "On behalf of every student who has benefited from the association, I am deeply grateful for making it possible for us to graduate. I also commit to repaying my gift by contributing my bit towards the association’s projects," says Mareme Mathosa, one of the students who has benefited from the association.

Mathosa received his National Diploma in Safety Management at a recent graduation ceremony. This was made possible by the Unisa alumni, who contributed donations to assist graduates who completed their studies but could not graduate due to outstanding fees. Sharing his sentiments, he says: "It felt like a fairy tale when I received the message that I could graduate." He completed his diploma in 2020 but could not raise the money to pay his final tuition. Unfortunately, the Covid-19 pandemic also contributed to his plight due to the limited work opportunities that existed during the time.

Mathosa was raised by his grandmother in Atteridgeville while his parents worked in Limpopo. After completing high school, he started tertiary education at Pretoria Technicon, now known as the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT). Sadly, after his grandmother’s passing, he had to drop out of school so that he could work to help support his mother and siblings. It was in 2013 when he commenced his journey with Unisa when he enrolled for the National Diploma in Safety Management. His studies were interrupted due to various circumstances, but in 2020 he wrote his final exams and passed. Since he held casual jobs, he struggled to make ends meet and raise enough money to pay his outstanding fees, which is why he could not graduate immediately after completing his qualification.

Through the help of the Unisa Alumni Association, Mathosa has graduated and intends to enrol for a law degree next year. Thankfully, he also has a job as an estate agent.

Alumni fundraising forms an integral part of alumni activities at Unisa. The association is currently supporting a few causes, including the Alumni4alumni KZN disaster fund and the MySchool Card initiative. In addition, several alumni contribute monthly towards the central alumni fund, which is used for projects like paying outstanding fees for underprivileged students who pass their final exams with outstanding fees.

Click here to join the Alumni Association. 

* By Cilla Boucher, Alumni Relations Officer, Department of Institutional Advancement

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Publish date: 2022/08/18

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