Victor Mecoamere

Victor Mecoamere

Four youngsters' lives have been transformed by a nation-building partnership aimed at ensuring that education is used as a springboard to a bright future.

Brightness Makuvele, Xolani Ntambelo, Ishmael Moloi and Nonhlanhla Zondi are the 2009 recipients of the Lucky Mazibuko Bursary, allowing them free tuition at Rosebank College.

Makuvele and Ntambelo are studying towards diplomas in business management, Moloi is taking a travel and tour operations diploma while Zondi is pursuing a diploma in accounting and financial computing.

Offered in honour of celebrated Sowetan HIV-Aids awareness, education and advocacy trailblazer Lucky Mazibuko, the bursary is one of a number of the private higher education institution's corporate social investment offerings.

Mazibuko, who has been living with HIV-Aids for 18 years now, pens the much-followed Just Call Me Lucky column in Sowetan on Wednesdays.

This nation-building partnership is in line with Sowetan's and the Aggrey Klaaste Nation Building Foundation's youth development ideals.

Sowetan's nation-building ethos encourages thriving partnerships aimed at promoting integrity, excellence and creating an efficient leadership among the young and old to increase the value and quality of life of all South Africa's inhabitants.

Mazibuko is expected to act as life coach and mentor for the fortunate foursome. They were allocated the bursaries based on their academic savvy, tangible potential to succeed and a willingness to volunteer in Rosebank College, Sowetan and the Aggrey Klaaste Nation Building Foundation's various corporate social investment and responsibility or nation-building activities.

Before officiating in the ceremony to hand over the bursaries, Mazibuko delivered two lively, informative and oftentimes entertaining motivational talks to the college's journalism students.

His message - incorporating sobering HIV-Aids awareness-building and educational pointers - highlighted messages akin to famous youth motivational guru, Captain Bob Webb's highly-effective life skills spiels.

These highlighted how having a visionary control of your destiny and lifestyle ensures that you develop into a role model of talent, self-reliance and success.