Day 20: Etelvina – A Dream That Grows With Perseverance
Etelvina’s story is a testimony to resilience, determination and how education is the starting point for a better future. Today, at the age of 21, Etelvina is about to complete her nursing degree in maternal and child health, her childhood dream. But the road to this point has been long and full of challenges.
In 2009, Etelvina and her sisters’ lives changed dramatically. The loss of their parents to HIV/AIDS left them destitute and, shortly afterwards, they also lost the paternal grandmother who had taken them in. With no other family nearby to look after them, they went to live with their maternal grandmother, an elderly woman who was no longer able to work and support her granddaughters. It was a difficult scenario, where every day was a struggle for survival.
Despite everything, Etelvina stood her ground. Her teachers said she was a dedicated and exemplary girl, who walked to school every day for about 40 minutes. Even then, education was her greatest hope. It was then that ALG came into Etelvina’s life, through the Sponsorship Programme. This support not only guaranteed her basic needs, but also fuelled her dream of continuing to study and changing her destiny.
Today, Etelvina is about to graduate as a nurse specialising in maternal and child health, a course she loves and in which she has proudly attended births. But the last few months haven’t been easy. Etelvina confesses:
‘It was a challenge knowing that I was going to recur in two modules. It was hard, but I never thought of giving up. I’m very proud to be where I am now, in the last semester of my degree. I didn’t let it get to me.’
Between difficulties and victories, Etelvina’s perseverance shines through. She has learnt to deal with the challenges that life has thrown at her and promises to do her best until the end:
‘In these remaining months, I promise to work even harder and do my best. I want to finish this course, I want to honour the path I’ve travelled and show that it’s worth never giving up.’
Etelvina’s story isn’t just about achieving a degree. It’s about breaking the cycle of poverty through education and inspiring other girls to follow their dreams. Through ALG’s University Scholarship Programme, young people like Etelvina find the support they need to turn adversity into opportunity.
With her strength and courage, Etelvina is building a different future – for herself, her family and her community. The journey is not yet over, but the steps she has taken are already a victory worth celebrating. Education changes lives. Etelvina is living proof of that.