Alumni Profile

Name: Dr hellen Manyau

Scholarship: Bachelor of Medicine

Award Year: 2012

Graduated: 2014 (Honours)

Employment: Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals

It was at that point when it seemed like there was no light at the end of a tunnel. We were three children in the family and they were all going to school. I being the eldest and had ventured into a journey towards the noble profession. The second child was in college and the youngest was in high school. Our father had [stopped working] when I started [High School]. Our mother had worked to sustain the family with a small chicken project. For years it had worked, but as we progressed with our education the fees got higher and unmanageable. On one fateful day I  woke up to a loud scream and it was our mother. We wondered what had happened and we rushed to where she was. There were no chickens in the fowl run. That was our source of livelihood that had come to a premature death. We sat there in silence as we wondered what was going to happen next. No one said anything as we knew we had reached a dead end.

I was in microbiology lecture when they told me that I was needed at the Academic Registrar’s Office. What had I done? Was I going to be chased away from college due to non-payment? All these questions were going through my head as I headed towards the office. To my amazement there were forms to be signed. I was selected to be a beneficiary of a scholarship. How did they have my name? Only God knows. 

I proceeded to do the paperwork and I was told within a few weeks I had qualified to be beneficiary of this scholarship program. This was like a dream. It was full tuition fee and accommodation fee and on top of that was a an allowance.

Was I dreaming? No, this was really happening. From all the hassles of waking up early travelling [for hours] to school and sleeping late after the very long travel from school, I was to move into University Residence. I had no worries.  As a lady, I needed to have a few accessories, and stationary for my studies. This was also provided in the allowance. Many young girls at university who do not have money for their upkeep, transport and extra costs of study resort to looking for sugar daddies to look after them.

This was the African Dream Foundation Scholarship. I was so humbled to be one of the first university beneficiaries. This made a huge turn around on my journey through medical school. I finished my course without supplementing because all my worries were catered for and all I was thinking about was my studies. I excelled in my grades. I got 2.1 honors in all my courses. 

Today I am humbled and truly grateful to be a qualified medical doctor. Doctor Hellen Takudzwa Manyau.