Your decisions today, impact your future
We reflect on situations where students have made decisions that have had a negative impact on their future.
Our beneficiaries and their personal development are what motivates us every day.
The Tiso Foundation was started on the belief that the way to create a lasting impact for the future, is to invest in the youth of our country through education and providing them with requisite skills. Since inception the Tiso Foundation has provided educational opportunities for underprivileged black youth across South African.
Over the years, as an organisation we have realised the responsibility we have to our youth beyond just financial access. We have had to take an active role in the lives of our beneficiaries and assist not only academically and financially but also through various life skills workshops, day-to-day psycho-support and interventions. We have learnt that our students require far more than just finance and academic support.
Our beneficiaries and their personal development are what motivates us every day, as well as our intrinsic belief that education is the key to unlocking and enabling our future leaders. It is incredible to see our beneficiaries begin their tertiary studies and watch them grow, qualify in their respective disciplines, becoming economically active and start making a difference in the lives of their families and communities. Whether it be paying for their siblings to go to university, donating and volunteering in the building clinics or drug rehab centres in their local communities, it is evident that youth have a desire to change the poverty cycle within their families and assist their communities with access to services and skills which they are in dire need of.
However, on occasion, we do see students making mistakes which not only cost them their bursary but if left unaddressed or corrected, could have the potential to derail their lives in entirety. As a Foundation we are always looking for ways in which we can grow our programmes due to the large demand for bursaries and the number of deserving students we meet each year. With that in mind we never want to see young people waste opportunities provided to them, whether it be a bursary, vacation work or the potential to win an award.
Recently we had one of our Artisan students begin his workplace experience at a mine. Although he is a good and solid worker, the mine found him to be under the influence of alcohol during work hours. He was immediately dismissed. Due to safety at the mine they could not risk having an employee pose a danger to themselves and others. Although he was a good student and a hard worker, his job requires a certain level of responsibility.
Every environment has rules and regulations which all people are expected to adhere to. Most importantly how you as an individual carry and conduct yourself in every aspect of your life and the choices you make will determine the course of your life. This is not the first time we have encountered such problems. Students need to understand that the workplace environment irrespective of the industry have rules and regulations which must be adhered to and are legally able to enforce.
Life affords us all many opportunities, what’s important to remember is to be clear on who you are, set realistic goals and work towards achieving them. Your choices will determine if you participate in an opportunity or if you derail your own future.