When three of the Wakefield Grannies visited Alexandra Township in 2008, we were moved by the impressive greeting we received from Lindiwi Modau, a young girl who had lost her mother to Aids, and then, when in Primary School, her caregiver, her Gogo or grandmother, died.
To gain a University degree seemed an overambitious goal. She and the community in which they all struggle have become part of our lives as well, as we communicate regularly and visit on occasion.
The large but close-knit community of grandmothers connected to the East Bank Clinic are justifiably proud, as are we, as we all help to rebuild the lives of these children which have been destroyed by AIDS and the continuing struggle to survive in an overcrowded 'shanty-town' atmosphere.
Diana Teffo, the director and social worker in charge of the East Bank Mental Health clinic, accompanied Lindiwe to the presentation and wrote the following letter. Norma Geggie (founder Wakefield Grannies)
Words cannot describe my joy and excitement regarding our golden girl Lindiwe Modau, she graduated last saturday at the Wits university Hall in Johannesburg, she obtained her 3 years Bachelor of Business Administration Degree from Cida University. She was so happy, I am sure Norma remember her, little Lindiwe welcomed her when they visited Alex for the first time with such moving speech.
She is our first university graduate and soon she will be followed by Ernest Mokoena. She is now doing an internship with an insurance company that offered her a bursary and she is also registered for her Honours degree this year through the stipend she received from the insurance company.
She is such an inspiration for all our school children and she motivated Ernest to work hard and obtained his university entry and her encouragement to our younger kids is that, if she can do it then others can because she did it without an adult or grandmother looking after her since her grandmother died when she was in primary school.
What an excellent achievement for her.
Regards
Diana
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