Testimonial Letter for Tiso Skills Fund and VW Financial Services (Pty) Ltd
I hope this letter finds you well. My name is Sisonke, and I am writing to express my deepest gratitude for the life-changing support I received from VW Financial Services through the Tiso Skills Fund. Your generosity not only helped me continue my education but also allowed me to honour the sacrifices of my family and fulfil dreams that once felt impossible.
My journey to higher education has been paved with challenges. Coming from a family where my father was a pensioner and my mother was unemployed, funding my studies was always my greatest challenge. Despite their limited means, my parents believed wholeheartedly in the power of education. When I was struggling to get funding and could not continue with my studies, my father made an enormous sacrifice. He sold his livestock and used his savings to help me continue, even though the amount could only cover my accommodation and not my full tuition. He believed wholeheartedly in my potential and was willing to give up everything he had to see me succeed.
Tragically, my father passed away during the last year of my studies, leaving our family without a breadwinner and my educational journey in jeopardy. The weight of his sacrifice felt heavy, and I feared that his dreams for me would remain unfulfilled. At the same time, my mother battled severe illness, and the emotional and financial strain on our family grew even greater.
At my most critical moment, the support from the Tiso Skills Fund and VW Financial Services came to my rescue. This funding lifted an immense burden by paying off all of my student debt and I was able to complete my degree and graduate. My mother, despite her illness, lived to see me graduate, which was a moment of immense pride for her and a tribute to my father’s sacrifice. She passed away just a few weeks after my graduation, but I take solace in knowing that she witnessed the culmination of her and my father’s hopes for me.
Now, with your continued support for my Honours degree, I am not only realizing my own potential but also carrying forward the legacy of my parents’ belief in me. This funding has opened the door for me to pursue a Master’s degree, a path I once could only dream of. Your investment in my education has given me the tools to build a better future, not just for myself, but for my community.
Thank you for believing in me, and for giving students like myself the chance to turn adversity into achievement.
Yours sincerely,
Sisonke Peter
