Kind strangers have offered everything from clothing to photos, and even transport after hearing about a student whose family cannot make his graduation!
Tshwane, South Africa – A Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) student was overwhelmed with support after South African social media responded to his heartfelt tweet.
Given Mashitisha is originally from Limpopo but currently staying in Pretoria, Soshanguve. The dedicated student has a National Diploma in Administrative Management General and a B TECH in Management from TUT.
But Mashitisha’s mother is not working, so the student has had a lonely road without his family by his side during his studies, and has had to rely on the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) to get his qualifications.
Given wanted to pay off the money he owed so he took to Twitter to ask people to help him find a job. He was so desperate to get his qualification, he even offered to do odd jobs such as cleaning, cooking and gardening. An anonymous donor saw the tweet and offered to settle his debt.
“I enrolled for Btech in Management (Tshwane University of technology) which is the one I am graduating for, next month. I am currently doing my Advanced Diploma in Administrative management.
Nsfas does not fund a Btech, I owed the institution R31890 for 2018 fees. So it was on the 3rd of January 2019 when I posted on Twitter pleading for assistance. That’s when a good Samaritan who wanted to remain anonymous pledged R32000 to cover my outstanding fees.”
Mashitisha is finally graduating on the 25th of April and took to Twitter to ask if anyone would like to attend his ceremony as his family cannot make it.
And the response has been UNREAL!!! The tweet quickly gained traction with over 1500 retweets and 3500 likes.
South African social media users immediately offered to be there to support, to take photos, and even kit out the student to make sure he looked the part. The online conversation grew to a point where kind strangers offered to pay for his family to make the trip from Limpopo to Tshwane to celebrate the big day with him!
One social media user even offered to take Mashitisha’s mom shopping so that she can look the part too!
Check out the incredible thread below:
