A heroine from the Potchefstroom High School for Girls has won gold at the Beijing Youth Science Creation Competition in China.
At the one end of the spectrum is the extraordinary 16-year-old learner, Reabetswe Maputle. At the other end lies rural Madibogo with a community that is faced with diseases like ear, respiratory and bladder infections, typhoid and guinea worm disease.
Reabetswe aims to breathe hope into the lives of the people in the disadvantaged community. Her thought-provoking project investigated the dangerous pathogens/bacteria found in the borehole water.
Her face lights up when she explains the importance of her project. ‘According to the World Health Organisation WHO (2011), 58 per cent of the deaths in the world population are due to the lack of safe drinking water. When I took samples from the boreholes in Madibogo, I discovered bacteria in the water that are responsible for many of the community’s health problems. I then took six antibiotics that are commonly used in the community and tested them on the bacteria.
The most astonishing thing was that they are drug-resistant. This means that the medication will not effectively treat their diseases,’ she says.
The future scientist says she now has to develop an effective antimicrobial for waterborne diseases to eliminate the pathogens.
Reabetswe, who fell in love with science in Gr. 8 says she had to seek assistance from a PhD student from the NWU to lend a helping hand in this project.
After completing her Gr. 12, Reabetswe wants to study biomedical engineering because she wants to use technology to solve medical problems.
The future Dr Maputle will still hold community close to her heart
She plans to continue with this research until university and promises to keep the rural community close to her heart while she pursues a PhD one day.
‘There should be a balance between developing the urban areas and helping to change the lives of the people in rural areas. I feel like I’m their only hope.’
The future Dr Maputle says winning gold on the international stage feels amazing, especially at the age of 16. ‘To me, it is unbelievable. I never thought I could achieve such an award but I proved myself wrong,’ she smiles.
Beijing was amazing
Reabetswe says China was amazing. ‘I really learnt a lot. I was surprised that teenagers could come up with such innovative projects. It shows that anything is possible if you put your mind to it,’ she says.
‘Some of the Chinese were surprised to see me because they had never seen a black person before,’ she laughs.
Reabetswe says she missed the South African food the most. ‘The Chinese love chicken and they boil everything.
No wonder they are so healthy because they do not eat oily food like us,’ she adds, looking embarrassed.
It’s time to focus and catch up
Now that her China trip is water under the bridge, Reabetswe wants to focus and catch up on the lessons she has missed. ‘My short-term goal is to pass matric with flying colours, that’s every learner’s dream. I am aiming for distinctions in all my subjects (Physical Science, Life Science, Business Studies, Pure Mathematics, English and Afrikaans). I want to study at UCT, Wits or Pretoria University and be far away from home,’ she whispers so her mom can’t hear.
NW golden girl calls other learners to follow in her footsteps
The learner with this incredible, motivating story encourages every other learner to take part in the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists because it is not only for Science learners.
‘It is a lot of work but it was worth it in the end.
There were sleepless nights because success does not come easy. It really opens doors to the future and you get to discover your purpose in life,’ says the bright young mind, with a twinkle in her eyes.
