Onthatile
High School: Moletsane Secondary School
Year Matriculated: 2025
Qualification: Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Audiology and Speech Therapy
Field of Study / Career Path: Health Sciences
My name is Onthatile, a 17-year-old from a disadvantaged township in Soweto. I recently matriculated at Moletsane Secondary School, achieving a Bachelor’s admission with five distinctions, including English (83%) and Life Science (87%).
I have been part of the Tomorrow Trust family since 2014, starting in Grade 1. The programme has been a second home, keeping me engaged in schoolwork and extracurricular activities while steering me away from negative influences. While some peers left the programme along the way, I persevered, supported by my mother’s encouragement and my belief in myself. Tomorrow Trust not only helped me academically but also shaped me as a person, fostering discipline, resilience, and independence.
Throughout my journey, I faced challenges such as self-identity struggles, fluctuations in academic performance, and maintaining discipline. The programme’s psychosocial and academic support helped me overcome these obstacles and achieve excellence in every grade. The guidance, care, and life skills instilled by Tomorrow Trust allowed me to grow into a confident, motivated individual and serve as a role model for my younger siblings.
I am proud to have matriculated successfully and to have been accepted to pursue a BSc in Audiology and Speech Therapy, marking the start of my journey in Health Sciences.
Kgahliso
High School: Tembisa High
Year Matriculated: 2025
Career Field: Medicine
Kgahliso is a determined young woman from Tembisa. She grew up sharing a rented space with her father, who worked as a bus driver. In 2023, she joined the Tomorrow Trust Holiday and Saturday Programme as a grade 10 learner, and it supported her through her FET milestones until she matriculated in 2025.
As a Grade 12 learner, Kgahliso faced several challenges. She struggled to keep up with the pace of school content, had difficulty managing her time, and maintaining consistency in her studies. She made it her mission to use Tomorrow Trust as her “secret weapon” to overcome these obstacles. Through the programme’s extensive revision sessions, dedicated teachers, and constant motivation, she filled in gaps in her knowledge and strengthened her weaknesses.
Kgahliso’s commitment and hard work paid off. While she is naturally quiet and reserved in the Programme, her dedication and focus were remarkable. Being part of Tomorrow Trust broadened her horizons, showing her the power of education and encouraging her to seize opportunities.
Her efforts resulted in outstanding academic success. Kgahliso passed matric with a Bachelor’s pass, achieving distinctions in Physical Science (85%), Life Science (94%), English (89%), and Mathematics (90%). She has been accepted to study Medicine.
Mpho
High School: Bokamoso Secondary School
Year Matriculated: 2025
Qualification: Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Computer Science
Field of Study / Career Path: Computer Science
For many students, the final year of high school is a pressure cooker. For Mpho, a determined learner from Tembisa, that pressure was compounded by a bustling, cramped household shared with parents, four relatives, and their children. In a home where quiet moments were a luxury, Mpho had to engineer a path to success through sheer grit and strategic planning.
To survive the intensity of matric, Mpho turned the school day into a marathon. Arriving at sunrise and often staying until 7:00 p.m., Mpho sought the uninterrupted silence that home couldn’t provide. Even then, the work didn’t stop; after a brief nap at home, Mpho would wake in the stillness of the early morning hours to study while the rest of the household slept.
In 2024, during Grade 11, Mpho joined the Tomorrow Trust Holiday and Saturday Programme. This proved to be the catalyst for a total academic transformation. The programme offered more than just extra lessons; it provided a community of motivated peers and “always-on” tutors who bridged the gaps left by a traditional school day.
One of the most significant breakthroughs happened in the English classroom. Battling shyness and a lack of confidence, Mpho struggled to participate. However, a dedicated teacher saw past the silence, encouraging Mpho to speak up even when the answers felt uncertain. This mentorship revealed a crucial truth: the challenge wasn’t understanding the language, but the confidence to phrase the thoughts. By the end of the year, English had shifted from a hurdle to a highlight.
Katlego
High School: Tembisa High School
Year Matriculated: 2025
Field of Study Career Path: Financial Sciences
Katlego Mahlangu has been part of the Tomorrow Trust Holiday School Programme since Grade 1. Throughout his journey, he experienced both successes and challenges, like many young learners from his community. Recognised early by his primary school teachers for his potential, Katlego sometimes struggled in Grades 8 and 9, facing academic and behavioural challenges. Some of his friends left the Programme, changed subjects, or lost interest, but Katlego had strong support from his family, especially his father, and motivation from his older sister, Zanele, a Tomorrow Trust alumnus who matriculated in 2012 and went on to study at Wits. She continues to inspire him, now working in London.
Katlego faced academic difficulties in Grades 9 and 10, but with consistent guidance and the structured support of Tomorrow Trust, he worked hard in Grade 12. His dedication paid off: he passed matric with a Bachelor’s pass, earning him the opportunity to study further at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
Katlego’s journey is one of transformation. Once a playful and occasionally naughty young boy who loved soccer, he has grown into a confident young man who achieved his academic dreams. His success is a source of pride for both himself and his family and a testament to the power of perseverance, family support, and the guidance provided by Tomorrow Trust.
Dorcus
High School: Tembisa High School
Year Matriculated: 2025
Qualification: Biomedical Sciences
Dorcus joined the Tomorrow Trust Programme in 2022 after being selected by Tembisa High School for her academic potential. From the moment she joined the Programme, she remained committed and determined to make the most of every opportunity presented to her. Although Dorcus was initially quiet when she joined in 2022, the supportive and inclusive environment of the Programme allowed her to grow in confidence. She found her voice, made new friends, and built strong relationships with Programme teachers who consistently reached out to ensure that every learner fully understood the academic content. Over time, Dorcus became one of the most interactive learners in the Programme, particularly during academic classes and workshops.
Dorcus actively participated in all Programme activities, including academic excursions, and demonstrated a genuine passion for learning and giving back. A highlight of her commitment was when she volunteered her time during the Junior Programme learners’ Christmas party. Her willingness to support younger learners reflects her desire to see others follow in her footsteps—progressing through the Programme, matriculating successfully, and pursuing tertiary studies. During the final exams, Dorcus performed well, passing with a Bachelor’s and obtaining 2 distinctions in English (92%) and Life sciences (87%).
Dorcus’s journey is a testament to the impact of a nurturing learning environment, personal growth, and dedication. She has been accepted to study Biomedical Sciences, marking an important milestone in her academic journey.