Rotary Anns’ star pupil

JOBURG – The future looks set to be a brighter place for matric pupil Patricia Mathonsi, thanks to the Randburg Rotary Anns.

After the district governor decided her 2009 theme would be Adopt a Teen, the Randburg club took up the challenge and decided to pay one teenager’s fees for the duration of her time at Sekolo sa Borokgo High School.

That teenager was Mathonsi, Riversand Primary School’s top pupil.

Caryll Ackroyd, a Craigpark resident and member of the Randburg club, said they chose the high school because of its high matric success rate, with 63 percent of pupils achieving a university entrance pass.

“We were put in touch with Mathonsi, who lives with her father and sister in Diepsloot, and she hasn’t let us down. Her marks have been consistent and above average, and she received full academic colours,” said Ackroyd.

The money used for the school fees, R75000, was raised through a concert held by Jocey Pretorius’s ballet school.

“This has opened a lot of doors for me. I have been taught by dedicated teachers, I’ve been able to use different educational resources like audio and video, and I’ve made many different friends. It helped build my character,” said Mathonsi.

She described her relationship with her teachers as “open and honest”, and said they went beyond the call of duty.

“Our teachers are like our friends. We trust them and know we can confide in them. They’ve encouraged us to open our minds, and they always make time to give us extra lessons if we need them,” she said.

Mathonsi now hopes to find a sponsor, so she can further her education at university.

“I want to study economics. I love economics. It links the world together, and makes it smaller. It also touches so many different subjects, like politics, society and problem-solving,” she said.

Details: Caryll Ackroyd 076-601-3224.