Alumni

Bursary marks the start of a remarkable journey

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Letty Dineo Stanley was born and raised in the Free State. Despite her disadvantaged background, she overcame the odds when she registered at Unisa and received a Motsepe Foundation Bursary.

Her father was murdered when she was only eight months old, and her mother lived with mental illness. But her straitened circumstances did not stop her from realising her dream. She was the first in her family to write matric due to her determination and resilience.

From an early age, Stanley dreamed big and vowed to rise above her circumstances. Hers is a remarkable story of persistence in the face of hardship.


Letty’s registration at Unisa marked the start of a remarkable journey

"I heard about Unisa from my late partner," she says. "He was a bookworm and had two qualifications from the university. He assured me that it was possible to study after matric despite my financial situation." This assurance ignited a spark in her and her decision to register marked the beginning of her remarkable journey.

Distance learning had been both rewarding and challenging. "Self-study taught me discipline and self-motivation, qualities I am proud of," says Stanley.

In 2020, Stanley completed a National Diploma in Safety Management through Unisa. She had always wanted to work with people in the safety environment, ensuring that people not only work safely, but also return safely to their families. "Apart from ensuring compliance, I got to help people with their psychological challenges," she remarks.


A lack of funds

Unemployed and without financial support, she became a self-funded student. "At times, I could not pay my tuition fees," she recounts. "The money I earned by doing piece jobs allowed me to register for a module or two, just to keep my academic journey going."

Her accumulated study debt weighed heavily on her mind, and she often wondered how she would ever be able to pay it off.

The Motsepe Foundation Bursary ended her financial struggles. "With my financial worries eliminated, I can now study further and even pursue an honours degree," she says excitedly.

Stanley remains grateful for the support she received. "The Motsepe Foundation has helped me greatly because I had been unemployed for the whole of last year. I sincerely thank the foundation, and I hope I can one day help others as they have helped me," she concludes.

* By Kgaogelo Magare, Unisa Foundation and Alumni Relations

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Publish date: 2025-07-21 00:00:00.0

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