Overcoming language barriers in pursuit of an education

When Dr Andrew Ross joined Mosvold Hospital in 1990, there were only five doctors, three of whom left in 1992. Dr Ross established the Friends of Mosvold Trust in 1995, which became Umthombo Youth Development Foundation in 2010. The aim was to invest in the education of rural youth, train them as healthcare professionals, and have them work in rural hospitals in the area. Since 2001, Discovery has invested over R19 million in the Umthombo Youth Foundation's scholarship programme. Today, graduates of Umthombo work at participating hospitals in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape.

It's up to the dreamer to make their dreams a reality

When young people in rural areas see themselves represented in leadership positions in the community, roles such as doctors and nurses, they see what's possible for them, and they realise that they belong. It is always up to the dreamer to do what's necessary to make their dreams a reality, however, consistently seeing others who've faced similar challenges as you, drives the message home.
One of more than 500 students who've received a bursary through the Umthombo Youth Development Foundation, Lungisa Gobenamba grew up in the Eastern Cape. Lungisa had a tough upbringing, with limited access to quality education in rural schools, he was uncertain whether or not he would even finish high school.
Although he was excited to receive his bursary after completing high school, the reality of a new set of challenges, in an unfamiliar environment quickly set in. Being enrolled at Rhodes University, a predominantly Afrikaans speaking school, language was an obstacle Lungisa had to quickly overcome in order to achieve his goal of graduating. In a letter to The Discovery Fund Trustees, thanking them for their support, Lungisa wrote; "It took your generous heart to believe in me, with all the challenges I faced at Rhodes, I derived motivation from thinking about the people who believed in me while they had never met me in person".

Breaking the cycle of poverty

The 27 year old graduated from Rhodes University in 2019 with a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree, he went on to be an intern at Dora Nginza Hospital in Gqeberha. The gift of education he has received through the Discovery Fund and Umthombo, will not only help break the cycle of poverty in Lungisa's family but will serve as an example to other young people in situations similar to his. Lungisa has not only achieved the onset goal by Uthombo, in beginning to close the gap of inequality in the healthcare service provided in rural areas, but he has proven that determination can go a long way in helping you achieve your goals, wherever you may come from.