Sponsored child is a uni graduate
Her name means gift.
Even though she was born during a time of family turmoil, her mother decided to name her Nozipho – gift.
Nozipho never knew her biological father. The day she was born was the day he decided to turn his back from his family. Nozipho’s mother, Mariah Mbowane, was alone – unemployed and with six children to take care of.
From the beginning, Nozipho was a sweet little girl and everybody in the family loved her.
She was very smart in school, topping other students year after year.
World Vision, through the Nkalashane Area Development Programme (ADP), recruited three of the six children from Mariah’s family – Nozipho included – for the child sponsorship programme.
Education a priority
Amidst the hardship, Mariah ensured that her children remained in school. There were times when the family went to sleep without eating food for days. To cope, Mariah started farming.
With the money she received, she made sure that there was food in the house, that the children had clothes and uniforms and, with help from World Vision, that their school fees were paid.
Upon graduating high school in 2004, Nozipho applied to the University of Swaziland and was admitted to study a Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communications, with a three year scholarship courtesy of the Swazi government.
Benefitting from World Vision projects
Mariah has participated in various World Vision projects. She has learned to construct water harvesters thanks to World Vision training. She has also acquired plumbing and construction skills, again thanks to World Vision training.
Mariah is also an active member of a savings group, where they save money and borrow against their savings to do businesses.
“I am always grateful to World Vision for the assistance that my family received over the years. In 1992, we used to get food ration from World Vision because of the food state of affairs then. World Vision, through the ADP, has been giving my children clothes, shoes, toothbrushes and toothpaste.
“They also gave me a goat that was able to multiply to four, but because of the state of affairs we decided to sell them to assist her (Nozipho) in some of her needs while at the university. The rest of her gifts, such as the fruit trees, are doing well,” Mariah says.
Nozipho and Mariah today
Nozipho studied hard at the university and completed her degree on time. She is now working for a construction firm as a Communications and Marketing Officer.
With her salary, she is assisting her mother to take care of her six grandchildren that were left orphans after two of her children died.
As Nozipho looks to the future, she hopes to start her own consultancy firm.
She is grateful to World Vision for the support afforded to her and her family. She is now able to take care of her ageing mother and her mother’s grandchildren.