" My name is Confidence Ndlovu from Thulani Trust, a small village in Mpumalanga and first of my parents’ children to graduate from tertiary. I’m a hardworking and dedicated postgraduate student at the University of Mpumalanga (UMP), studying towards an Honours Degree in Development Studies. At 22 I am an inspired leader. I have been overwhelmed by the many opportunities that UMP offers students. From being the secretary of Enactus UMP 2016/17 working on community sustainable development projects to becoming a Student Residence Assistant (RSA) 2019, are some of my big achievements at UMP.
When I registered for Development studies in 2016, I had no funding but I received the SETA bursary. Throughout the year there were many opportunities such as the Vice Chancellor Scholarship, which I received because of my good academic performance and exceptional leadership qualities in the roles I served at the university and my community.
The Vice Chancellor Scholarship has been the best thing to ever happen to me. It opened a lot of opportunities such as getting other scholarships and recognition from UMP.
Last year through the university together with some of my peers we applied for the Abe Bailey Travel Bursary, which was awarded to me. The Abe Bailey Travel Bursary focuses on leadership development and is awarded to students that are academically strong and have show exceptional qualities of leadership and service.
Last year during November 26 to December 22, I travelled to the UK from Cape Town to Ethiopia, from UK to Scotland with 16 most amazing, vibrant and intelligent South African upcoming leaders from different Universities. Thousands of opportunities, hundreds of spaces and countless experiences were shared in England and Scotland. If I could I would write a story about everyone I met from Trustees to ABES fellows, speakers, Good Enough members, the Director of Good Enough College and the visits to the House of Lords was overwhelming.
Through this month long educational tour I learned about unity, interactions, overcoming social disparities, facing fears, accepting challenges and understanding differences. My advice to other students is that: ‘yes, we may be the products of the fragmented conversations that started in the generations past, however we hold the new South Africa with both hands and willingness.’ If you are not going to be the change that means there won’t be any change in the economy, society, institutions or even the in world."