9/23/12
http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/18/world/africa/maud-chifamba-university-zimbabwe/index.html?npt=NP1
The article that I chose for this week is about a 14
year old girl in Zimbabwe that is going to college. Maud Chifamba just started
her studies toward a Bachelor of Accountancy Honors degree and the University
of Zimbabwe. She is the youngest university student ever in Zimbabwe as well as
all of southern Africa. Maud grew up in poverty and both of her parents died at
a young age. She lost her father when she was 5 years old and her mother passed
away last year. Maud earned a four-year scholarship of nearly $10,000 after she
excelled at last year’s Advanced Level exams. Her two brothers who are farm
workers were unable to pay the fees required to keep her in school so Maud
started studying at home by herself. Her primary school teachers decided to
move her from grade 3 to grade 6. At the age of 9 she took her primary school
exams and she received top marks for all subjects. She lacked the financial
support she needed for high school so she studied on her own. Zimbabwe has an
adult literacy rate of 92%, which is one of the highest in Africa, according to
UNICEF. "Normally
those that come from underprivileged backgrounds, their desire is really to
work hard and excel and of course Maud is an exceptional case in terms of
intellectual prowess" says Munyaradzi Madambi, dean of students at the
University of Zimbabwe.
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