Tertiary Preparation, a beacon of hope and guidance for the youth and parents in East London, was the long-held dream of Pamella Maxakato, the founder of Tertiary Preparation.
After 26 years of dedicated work in academia and in a student development role, she transformed this vision into reality.
Maxakato revealed that her journey would not have been possible without the critical support she received from her English lecturer at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) during her first year in 1990, as she struggled to write in English.
Speaking to Mthatha Express, Maxakato shared that the core mission of the organisation, which has been in operation for several years, is to “foster and equip the next generation of leaders to lead honorably in the professions they ultimately choose.”
“In my second year, I eventually became a tutor, and later, I transitioned to a coordinator of student support while studying for my master’s degree. The support I received from my lecturer made me vow to give back to all first-year students, ensuring they don’t have to endure the challenges I faced during my first year,” she added.
“In my view, this is about ‘ploughing’ back a seed that was once given to me in my first year,” she further revealed.
Despite making strides in youth development in East London, this has not come without challenges, Maxakato explained.
She said one of the major challenges faced by Tertiary Preparation has been funding.
“Everything I do now is from my pocket as I run these sessions free of charge,” she further added.
However, Tertiary Preparation has been able to persevere through these challenges.
Maxakato says she has been able to provide the following support:
- Conducting career coaching services at churches, schools, families, and one-on-one student support sessions.
- Life coaching and counseling services for students and parents.
- Holding personal development workshops, tertiary preparation workshops, radio talk shows, and assisting in identifying students in need of short-term monetary support.
- Offering support for students who wish to take a gap year.
- Working in conjunction with second and third-year students in different South African institutions to assist first-year students in various institutions, fostering a mentor-mentee relationship and ensuring they see familiar faces when they arrive at these tertiary institutions.
Maxakato hopes to continue making an impact by expanding her reach to young people in rural areas. Additionally, she hopes to have support centers in different provinces where the services can be availablethroughout the year.
“And to support those who have never thought of going to tertiary institutions, and form links with institutions for recognition of prior learning and also open channels for them to further their studies in fields needed in the South African economy today,” she added.
