STORY OF A MATRIC STUDENT

He made it through Matric and even got to his dance! Trying to feed children in her community who were taking exams on empty stomachs, mom Rochelle herself then fell upon hard times that threatened the academics of her own son Alex. But the ripple of kindness she’d initiated brought support from Lisa, a stranger

ROCHELLE DIATSONAMA (53) was born in Cape Town’s Elsie’s River, the eldest child of a school cleaner dad and a housewife mom. She attended Valhalla Senior Secondary School and worked in various supermarkets, then retired early due to ill health. She still lives in Elsie’s River with her son Alex (18)

MY HUSBAND AND I split up 16 years ago and he went back to his country, Congo-Brazzaville. It was difficult to raise Alex by myself but it was very important for me that he complete Matric. I myself wasn’t able to finish school when my dad lost his job, so I always felt I haven’t done as much with my life as I’d have liked.

When Alex got to Grade 11, I realised many youngsters around us who want to write Matric drop out of school, often because their parents have social problems. Many go to school on an empty stomach. There are also a lot of single moms like me around and I see their pain when they can’t afford to get something important for their children.

but no-one contacted me

I felt very sad to see these struggles and put together snack packs for about nine students so they didn’t have to write Matric finals on empty stomachs. Then I thought about doing things on a bigger scale and came up with a scheme called “Adopt a Matric”. I called CCFM Radio, asking listeners to support the scheme and these children. I hoped some donations would come in, but no-one contacted me.

Not long afterwards, things changed for Alex and me because he turned 18 and his child grant stopped. We applied for an adult grant for him but, all these months later, it’s still ‘pending’. I’d had cancerous leg ulcers for years, but they got really bad and I couldn’t stand longer than 10 minutes without crazy pain, so I couldn’t work. We were living off my monthly disability grant of R2100 [90 UK pounds]. One of the real problems was that Alex’s phone, which he needed for his studies, was only partially working.

trusting

I  kept just praying for us both, trusting that God would do something. In October, out of the blue, a lady from Rondebosch called Lisa contacted me. She’d heard me speak on the radio a whole year earlier and wanted to know if there was anyone she could help. I told her that I wasn’t helping anyone as I couldn’t even make ends meet for Alex and me.

To my joy, Lisa stepped in to help us. She heard the state we were in, posted something on Facebook and managed to get a brand-new phone donated for Alex! It was incredible now to see my boy study for his finals.

We were sharing a bed and Lisa found him a bed of his own so he could sleep properly, and even a rail to hang his clothing on. She brought shoes for Alex and blessed even me with a phone when mine stopped working. I hadn’t planned any Matric celebrations for Alex but Lisa bought him a ticket for his dance and organised suit hire. It was mind-blowing, a miracle!

I was really happy and so thankful for what I believe was God working through Lisa. The Lord was really just in everything. I would have felt such shame if he couldn’t go to the dance or finish school well. It was amazing to wave him off to the dance looking so good. Everything was just awesome.

Lisa discovered that ‘Adopt a Matric’ was still in its infancy but that she could ‘adopt’ Rochelle’s Matric son Alex straightaway. She organised a bed and wardrobe so that he could feel more organised, stop sharing a bed with his mom and get a good night’s sleep before exams. We have to say that the height differentials in this photo did make us wonder for a minute, who ‘adopted’ who? 😀

A friend of Rochelle’s organised the red carpet on which Alex left his home for the dance | Photo: Nicky Elliott

Above and below: Friends and family gathered to see Alex off | Photos: Nicky Elliott

When we heard that Alex got his Bachelor’s Pass, I was overwhelmed with gratitude. As Alex’s mom, I want to thank every one of the people who donated to our cause, their sacrifices have not been in vain. I don’t have words. Jesus is so incredible, a healer in so many ways! Even one of my legs is healed now and, if the other one heals, I will look for work. We’re still waiting to hear what university courses Alex can do. He needs a laptop for university and I’m praying every day about it.

I still want to make a difference for other schoolchildren. My dream this year is to show them that there is hope. Jeremiah 29, verse 11 tells us God gives us hope and a future. I want them to understand what Adopt a Matric did for Alex and where it can take him, to stop them giving up on school. With Lisa on my side, I believe we can make a big difference.’

The certificate that opens doors for Alex. ‘When we heard that Alex got his Bachelor’s Pass, I was overwhelmed with gratitude,’ says mom Rochelle, who left school before taking Matric finals due to difficult family circumstances

Members of the support team: Joanne Devine (left) and Dael Dyer (centre) donated phones and Adèle Gradner (right) funded the hire of his Matric dance suit. ‘I want to thank everyone who donated, their sacrifices have not been in vain,’ says Rochelle. ‘I still want to make a difference for other schoolchildren’

Graphic designer LISA PEIGNON (49) grew up in Zimbabwe and Cape Town, the eldest of five children. She studied at the Cape Technikon, then married Frenchman Jean-Philippe, who works in property. They have two children and live in Rondebosch

Lisa Peignon: ‘You can make an incredible impact on somebody’s life just by being available’ | Photo: Nicky Elliott

‘COMING BACK TO SOUTH AFRICA after 25 years away in France and the UK, I prayed about how I could be useful. One day, I heard a mom called Rochelle on the radio pitching her idea to support Matric students who weren’t necessarily living in abject poverty, but whose circumstances were very challenging nonetheless. I put her number in my phone, but a whole year went by without me doing anything about it. I started looking for a job and said to God, ‘Please give me something to do!’

I believe He put Rochelle’s name on my heart. I called her to see where her project was at and she almost broke down when she told me it had fallen by the wayside because she couldn’t make ends meet for herself and Alex.

humbled

I’d had these grand thoughts of finding a glorious job working in something established, of helping many schoolchildren from a number of schools. It was humbling to think that maybe God was calling me to support just one boy and his mom.

Humbling but fantastic at the same time. I’ve realised it’s good to start small! I popped a message on a Facebook group called The Village and got an overwhelming reaction. A lovely property agent named Dael responded by donating a phone that was sitting unused in her cupboard. We also organised exam snack packs with motivational messages on stickers for four children in the community that Rochelle told me about.

Financial donors also came on board and I was very precise with all of them, keeping up with them personally, sending them photos and letting them know exactly where their money had gone to. Everything that came in went to a very specific thing for Alex.

specific

This year, I’d like to expand from snack packs to healthy food packs, and academic support too. I’ve realised that when you see these children so lovely and neat in their school uniform you think everything is fine at home, but it’s often not.

Rochelle said Alex’s Matric dance was what she’d dreamed of for her boy. She just cried and cried. Experiencing her euphoria gave it back to me tenfold! She has since inundated me with the most beautiful, humble, dignified messages of thanks from which I think so many of us could learn. I don’t think I’ve ever been thanked so much in my entire life!

Those blue suede shoes are as desirable as ever, it seems. ‘Jo Reid, an incredible lady from my prayer group, bought Alex the exact shoes he wanted,’ says Lisa. ‘Experiencing Rochelle’s euphoria gave it back to me tenfold. I don’t think I’ve ever been thanked so much in my life!’ | Photo: Nicky Elliott

I keep telling Rochelle and Alex that it’s not really me, I’ve just been co-ordinating. I believe that when the Holy Spirit prompts, all you have to do is say yes and things happen! You can make an incredible impact on somebody’s life just by being available.

I’m over the moon he got a Bachelor’s Pass. It opens so many doors for him in his future life. I think Adopt a Matric has legs if we can get a bit of structure going, and keep asking God for guidance. I believe He’ll give us energy and the funds going forward. If anyone would like to get involved, I’d love them to contact me.’

ALEX SAYS…

‘I’M SO HAPPY I achieved a Bachelor’s Pass and can study further! I’m now waiting to see what courses I can do. I so appreciate everything Auntie Lisa did for me, especially providing me with a new cell phone. My old one would work one day but the next day not, so I missed certain messages from school. When Lisa blessed me with that phone, I was able to get all the messages and notes about how to study, so I studied better.

I’d always hoped to go to my Matric ball but as the year went on, it didn’t look possible. Now, I think it’ll be the night I remember for the rest of my life! I’m really happy. I loved everything about it. I looked the way I wanted to in the suit Lisa organised, I loved the atmosphere, the venue, the great food, the way everyone was dressed. Everything was just nice. I’m forever grateful.

help others

I thank God for my mother who always motivates me, and for Auntie Lisa who came into my life at the right time. I’d really like to help someone else. I know there are kids out there who dream of a Matric dance but can’t go because their parents aren’t working or there are other difficult circumstances.

I advise all Matric students to work hard and not let their situation determine where they are going in life. I had to work hard through difficult situations and circumstances but it really paid off. Tough circumstances can actually make you strong and motivate you to do better.’

‘I advise all Matric students to work hard and not let their situation determine where they are going in life,’ says Alex | Photo: Nicky Elliot

Snacks organised by Rochelle at home for celebrations prior to Alex’s dance | Photo: Nicky Elliott

Lisa’s encouragement to Alex when he gained a Bachelor’s Pass Matric

Joy! A community celebrates Alex’s journey 

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