Mother gets opportunity to study after devoting her life to family
36-year-old mother, wife and sister Vesna Obermeyer supports her family after losing her childhood, but she dreams of a brighter future through education.
Thirty-six-year-old Vesna Obermeyer has been keeping her family together since she was a child, giving up her own childhood to take on the responsibilities of her drug-addicted parents.
She dropped out of school in Grade 8 to look after her two baby brothers when her mother abandoned them.
She went into foster care for two years and then returned home, where nothing had changed. Vesna had her first son while in Grade 10 and once again left school.
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"He was my motivation to complete my secondary education, which I did all by the grace of God."
Three years ago, Vesna cared for her mother, who was terminally ill.
Today, Vesna is the only person in her family with a stable job.
Working as a receptionist, she supports her two sons, her husband (who works as a mechanic when he can find work), and her two brothers – both unemployed, with one currently in rehabilitation for drug addiction after burning their flat down a few months ago.
Her father, who has recovered from addiction, works as an Uber driver.
Vesna has been accepted to study Human Resource Management through Mancosa, allowing her to continue working while studying to improve her income prospects.
She has been trying to save to pay the R34 200 tuition fees, but with her significant financial responsibilities and limited income, this has been a bridge too far.
REQUEST FOR: Vesna Obermeyer, Bertrams, Johannesburg
ANGEL: Dave Arnold, representing the SABAT Bursary Fund
READ: Good Morning Angels New Year's Edition powered by SABAT Batteries
SPONSORING: The SABAT Bursary Fund will assist Vesna with R35 000 to cover her tuition fees for this year of her chosen course in Human Resource Management.
ORIGINAL REQUEST
Dear Good Morning Angels
I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to express my eagerness and commitment in applying for the bursary powered by SABAT Batteries and Good Morning Angels, as I embark on the pursuit of my academic and personal aspirations.
My name is Vesna Chanell Obermeyer, and this is my story.
From a young age, I have always been passionate about Human Resource Management – a role devoted to people. In fact, it is often called the “People Profession”.
“Coloured child from the hood with a dream”
I started working part-time over weekends and school holidays at Spar to assist my family financially. Both my parents were addicted to substances and unemployed, and we had to fend for ourselves. My mother abandoned us, and we were forced to face a harsh new reality at a very young age.
We often went to bed without food for many nights, and as a teenage girl, I could not afford sanitary pads or toiletries. Fancy clothes were the last thing on my mind – imagine looking good on an empty stomach. We would sometimes spend the entire day at a friend’s house just so that we could get something to eat.
At the time, I had two younger siblings under the age of two, still in nappies. During all the chaos, I was exposed to emotional and physical abuse. Watching your mother being abused is deeply traumatic when you are just a child. Life was difficult.
I dropped out of school in Grade 8 to look after my siblings. I was fortunate to be selected for foster care and remained with my foster parents until Grade 10. When I returned home, nothing had changed.
I fell pregnant at a young age and decided to keep my baby. He became my motivation to complete my secondary education, which I did all by the grace of God.
I lost my mother to cancer three years ago, and I cared for and nurtured her until she lost her battle with the disease. Today, I continue to do my best to provide for my family.
We push…
The bursary offered by SABAT Batteries holds profound significance for me, not only as a means of alleviating the financial burden of pursuing higher education, but also as a symbol of belief in my potential. With this support, I am confident that I will devote myself fully to my studies and make the most of the opportunity awarded to me.
I strive to maintain high academic standards and am eager to utilise the resources and facilities provided by Mancosa to further my studies in a BCom in Human Resource Management. The prospect of learning from esteemed lecturers and collaborating with like-minded individuals excites me, and I am determined to make the most of every learning opportunity.
I see this bursary as a gateway to fulfilling my dreams and making a positive impact not only in my own life, but also in the lives of my family. I take pride in everything that I do and am committed to excellence, hard work and continuous growth.
“Ambition is something no one can take away from you.”
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Humble regards
Vesna Chanell Obermeyer
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