Despite being faced by a daunting task to raise R 120 000 to enroll my daughter at the University Of Capetown in the next two weeks,I am not phased by the myriad of challenges that are strewn all over my limited options.Not even the current situation in my country Zimbabwe has dampened my hope.I am hopeful that raising half of the money will guarantee a place for my daughter at an institution of her dreams.I am also aware that raising the R 60 000 is as huge a call for my financial capabilities no matter how much I can stretch.Still I am not shaken.I have done my simple math and come up with R 30 000 by seeking help from my employer who has always carried my family at critical moments.Simply put,my January salary plus my advance salaries for February and March leaves me with R 30 000 for my daughter.My daughter is aware of my financial limitations and I can see how much strain she is taking every day as she counts down.She recently offered to proof read my mother’s memoir which I started writing in 2017 and have since been struggling to self edit,and eventually self publish.She even offered to type the manuscript for me and was hopeful that we could publish in time to sell it and raise her Tuition fees.She is still hopeful.

Determined to change my situation,I have not only based my success on hope but on reaching out to the world wide web family to share my story and deconstruct the inescapable truth of the challenges of Tertiary Education Funding for families in general and for expatriate families in particular.When  my son was denied funding by NESFAS in South Africa because his ID was issued based on permanent residence in the country.He does not enjoy the same benefits as SA citizens. This was a wake up call for me.Most bursaries also ask for  South African IDs hence funding our children’s education simply lies in our hands.As a determined immigrant father with limited rights, I have decided to start a Fund that can work as a reservoir for our children’s educational needs.The only challenge I have is that I can only contribute  a drop in the ocean of hope for my children and those of fellow immigrants in similar situations.Even if I start this initiative,I don’t have the know how to run such a huge undertaking.This is therefore a call for like minded people both ordinary and qualified; accountants,advocates,educators,managers,bankers and all who have their children’s futures at heart to kick start a Fund that can compete or even transcend those available for citizens of the countries we reside in.I know this may sound too ambitious but I am hopeful that even big companies started as wild dreams which came to life by shear determination.If there are existing funds that can help parents in my situation please be kind to advise me and I will be grateful.

In closing,I hope my vulnerability also helps even those who find it hard to share their stories.

Stay hopeful and determined.

peace and love for fellow Zimbos

Everyone who watches me busy on the key board maybe forgiven for thinking that I am a computer pro who is going through his paces to reach out to fellow pros,but a closer look will expose my short comings.Well thanks to poverty and my generation where computers were not even a requisite for our school principals,let alone our parents who labored to bring only bread to the family table-survival.As I pronounce my arrival to the tech world I do it fully aware that I have a daunting mission ahead as I navigate the technical jargon and prompts that I sometimes don’t even comprehend.But I am not phased for I  believe I can learn anything, in fact, anyone can learn anything. Besides I also believe that I have a story to tell,experiences to share,inspirations to give and above all to motivate those who find themselves in a similar situation as me.Self- education is what has made the birth of this site possible.I come to join the global community as a humble work- in- progress and hope to one day become a living testimony to dedication and resilience.Hailing from the troubled land of Zimbabwe and irking a living for my family in the strange lands of South Africa,I can only hope that my efforts and God’s grace can pull me through and deliver my family from the jaws of poverty and mediocrity and equip me to transform fellow countrymen especially children who suffer the double tragedy of being land locked and poor to buy the very basics of life.

I  am still learning so forgive me for not knowing how to end my first publication,at least I willing to learn.

Peace and Love

Ephraim Ndlovu

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton