My name is Tawonga Zakeyu from Traditional Village Ngokwe, Machinga District. I grew up in Ngokwe and I moved to Chikweo in 2013 to continue with my secondary school studies. I planned to finish secondary school, go to college to study nursing, get a job, and get married.

After I wrote my national secondary school exams, I went back to my village. When the results came out, I applied to many nursing colleges, but I did not get accepted. Since all I wanted was to study, I started applying to other fields like education, journalism, and accounting. Going to university was the only way for me to escape the fate of early marriage. Then Brooke Marshall recommended me a school in South Africa called African Leadership Academy. It was hard to believe that a girl like me from the rural area can go to a school like that.

I went to ALA in September 2015 and I graduated in June 2017. Before I graduated from ALA, I got admitted to EARTH University with a full MasterCard Scholarship. Currently, I am a fourth-year student at EARTH University where I am pursuing a degree in Agricultural Sciences. I plan to do my master’s in Plant Pathology after I graduate from EARTH University. Now more girls and the youth from my community look up to me as their model.  

The MasterCard Foundation gave me a chance to continue with education. It instilled hope in a community where there was little to no hope left. It gave an affirmation to young people that it is ok to dream big. Limited funding and high tuition costs still puts university out of the reach for many young people, my success story is one that gives them hope that it is possible to go to university/college after high school and that they can do it too.

Before, I had this belief that no matter how hard I worked in high school and how good my grades were, I would still end up on a farm like everyone else. This sentiment was shared by many where I grew up. Though I cannot claim that this has been erased from their minds, I do believe my success story and that of the others who came after me is slowly changing the minds of people in my community. Now many parents are encouraging their kids to go to school.

Since receiving the MasterCard Foundation scholarship, I have helped pay for the school fees of nine other students. Three of them have completed a degree at the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources. One has completed his teaching certificate and is now working as a teacher. Two have just completed their high school exams and the remaining three are still in high school. I have also started a program called My Future where the plan is to give recent college graduates in Malawi who are not able to find employment a grant to start a small business.

The Mastercard Foundation scholarship has opened up so many doors for me. It allowed me to meet people from all around the world, work on innovative projects, network and build lifelong relationships.

Hello! I would like to appreciate with a ''Big Thank you''. Being a part of Represent The Village branch of Malawi, is very impressive indeed. Represent have always been there for me and provided me with all kind of support I needed to fly with. Making it easy for my freshman year of college at university, is something that describes Represent sooo special and amazing to me.

If Represent was not there, I would have lost my confidence, hard working spirit, and whatever drove me to these steps, and finally remain dormant. You taught me exact lessons that I needed to learn till this far. I am forever grateful for your support and the knowledge you have so gracefully shared. I remember Brooke Marshall once said ''Charles, never say never!''. This is something that should be added in my keepsake. CLIMB THE MOUNTAIN.

Proud to be part of representing the village!! Represent helped me in different ways. For instance it provides money which were used in different ways such as: paying college fees for each and every term, buying stationery and basic needs e.g. clothes and food more specially during my Teaching Practice. Money were also used for transport (to and from the college). As of now I am a teacher at St Peter's Primary School acting as the role model to my community hence representing the village. Though government is not yet employed us but I am able to teach effectively with with support from the same Represent. Am greatly happy that am part of Represent. Had it been that Represent didn't help me I could no longer be a well trained teacher (i.e. a teacher who is reflective, autonomous, lifelong learning, able to display moral values and embrace learners diversity). This is because I could not manage to support I myself since I had nowhere to go and get help. Furthermore, without Represent’s help I could not manage achieve my goal. I could also be unskilled labour at someone's house due to poor qualifications I had.