Photo credit – the author: A bridge, one of many, on campus at Waterford Kamhlaba UWCSA
It all began in conversation with a graduate of Waterford Kamhlaba, United World College of Southern Africa, who talked with me about his experiences through school to his acceptance of a fully paid scholarship to study at a university in the USA. His mother is a Tutsi who fled the war in Rwanda not before being forced to witness the extermination of every single member of her family. She and her husband became refugees and finally ended up living in Mpaka in eSwatini. Over the years, anonymous people have paid for the shoes, books, uniforms, medical bills, travel, examination fees, pocket money, accommodation and school fees so that this refugee of Rwandan parents, Tutsi and Hutu, could challenge the present and help us understand our collective responsibility for the future.
He came from the Mpaka refugee camp to Waterford Kamhlaba and changed the way many of us view colonisation, conflict, war and genocide. Meeting this young man with his gentle strength, powerful intellect, warmth and a huge capacity for hard work led me to to start the Luxembourg to Mpaka Challenge. Since this first meeting, more than three years ago, I have met hundreds of students at Waterford Kamhlaba who embody the power education can have in changing lives.
You have now helped raise the funds for another Mpaka refugee to embrace education at Waterford Kamhlaba as a way to further question, understand, provoke, and change the ways we may better work in schools for others. The Kamhlaba Challenge has been met.
“Thank you” is too small a phrase to express my gratitude to you all. The individuals who have contributed monthly over two and a half years, the small groups who have pooled their donations and given these over to the Challenge, the institutions in Luxembourg and beyond and those who gave generously whenever they could. You have all recognised the importance of Waterford Kamhlaba as a unique educational institution in Southern Africa. Thank you for being that bridge for us as we continue to work towards a better world for everyone, in our own way, wherever we are. The Luxembourg to Mpaka Challenge closes today, 30 September 2024, having reached our target of:
€40,000
My thanks to our friends in the Advancement Office of Waterford Kamhlaba UWC, both past and present, who have supported the Challenge together with the Waterford Kamhlaba Foundation of South Africa, a registered charity and administrator of the Challenge.
You can continue to contribute to Waterford Kamhlaba UWCSA, and its mission through the Kamhlaba Challenges at https://www.kamhlabachallenge.com
And learn more about the college at https://www.waterford.sz
Siyabonga
Patricia Angoy 
What you have done for refugees can only be explained by Toni Morisson. “The function of freedom is to free someone else”. Like freedom, you have given someone hope. What is life anyway without hope? You have changed someone’s life. No! you have changed millions of lives through this one person.
Keep doing what you do Patricia—at the end of the day, life is truly meaningless and nonsense without people like: Instillers of hope!
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It is thanks to you Francisco. I will, forever, be grateful to our meeting that cool afternoon in my garden at Waterford Kamhlaba where your story unfolded to me. Let’s continue to live our lives with hope both for ourselves and others.
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Dear Patricia,
Words cannot express our sincere appreciation as Waterford Kamhlaba. What you have done is an absolutely amazing testament to achieving what you set out to do as an individual. Perseverance, dedication, patience and also a knowing that someone’s life will be impacted in an amazing way. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. Siyabonga Kakhulu and a special thanks to all that supported the Mpaka to Luxembourg Challenge.
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Dear WK, It is thanks to all the contributors with their generosity that this was possible and to Waterford Kamhlaba for being there!
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you inspire us to do better and be better for all those we meet along the way
so proud to call you a friend
Thank you Patricia
Roxzanna x
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Thank you Roxzanna. I feel the same about you!
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well done!
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congratulations to all!
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