When he grew up, he wanted to become either a pilot, a scientist, or a doctor.
“I never met a scientist or a pilot, but I met plenty of doctors, so I decided to become one and help people.”
Sam Marilele is a second-year medical student studying at the University of the Free State (UFS).
This might sound like the story of any young man on his way to becoming a doctor, but Sam is a young man who overcame his past and worked really hard to be where he is today. He hails from Virginia and felt scared and lonely when he started a new life at the Engo Winburg Child and Youth Care Centre in Gr. 4.
“As I grew older, I started to fit in more and I started to appreciate the love and compassion we received in the house.”
Sam said he found school up to Gr. 10 easy and he just cruised along.
“Work started to get more difficult in Gr. 11 and I really started to work hard.”
He served as head boy of the Winburg Combined School and was the dux learner of his school with an average of 85%. He passed matric with six distinctions and was among the 50 top matriculants in the Free State.
He was accepted to study medicine and received a bursary from the provincial government.
“I had to adapt to the hectic life of being a student fast, but I am getting there,” this resident of the UFS’ Ardour co-ed residence says about his new life.
“I am so grateful for the support from Engo. Before I received the money from the bursary, they helped with my expenses. I am so grateful for the faith they have in me and the support I received.”
Sam said he made wonderful friends at the university who share his faith and help him keep sight of his goal.
- “I want to set an example for my fellow residents of Engo youth care centres with my story and journey. It is common for these children to lose hope and see Engo as a restrictive place, instead of a place to grow. My goal is to show them and everyone else that Engo is an organisation that brings hope and fosters positive change in the country.” Support children in care centres as well as all the more than 200 000 people helped by Engo across the Free State, by donating R30 to the Engo Project of Hope.
For every donation of R30, you are entered to stand a chance to win a brand new Renault Kwid Life worth R196 999. Each month one winner stands the chance to win R1 000, and one ticket seller stands the chance to win R500. Buy your tickets today at any Engo Centre or online at engo.co.za.
