USSAS - University Scholarships for South African Students, Inc.

Usha Singh

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Firstly, I would like to express my gratitude for the bursary that you have sponsored me.

This grant will enable me to buy text books which previously I could not afford. My English text-books will cost me R560.00 this year. I have not yet received a quote for my Afrikaans textbooks.

During 1990 and 1991 I traveled to campus by bus from my parents home in Isipingo. Bus fares from Isipingo to campus amounts to R120.00 a month. At the moment I am living with a friend in Chatsworth since it is cheaper for me to travel from there. Soon I will have to return home since I need some space to study and I feel that I cannot impose on my friends for so long, therefore part of this grant will go toward my traveling costs.

My name is Usha Singh. I am an Indian lass. I am 19 years old and a 3rd year student at the University of Durban-Westvill. I am originally from Chatsworth but at the moment my family resides in Isipingo.

I come from a family of 6 children. I have two older sisters, and older brother and two younger sisters, who are twins. My mother is a housewife (she did have a job as a factory machinist but lost her job to cut-backs many years ago). My father works at St. Augustine Hospital, in the maintenance department. My eldest sister is married and has one child but she does not reside with my parents.

My mother (as I have stated above) is a housewife. My father earns R953.00 a month after deductions. My older brother contributes R200.00 a month to the household. My parents took a bond from the NBS (Natal Building Society) in order to buy the house in which they live. My father pays R800.00 a month to the bank towards this bond. The telephone account, water and electricity account and payments for appliances such as the stove and a few items of furniture comes to R500.00 a month. Eventually even though we have not yet bought groceries, our expenditure already exceeds our incomes.

My parents cannot afford to give us any financial assistance. I have survived so long at University with aid of a part-time job (which I don’t have anymore) and a bursary from the House of Delegates. This bursary however only covers tuition and does not cover my traveling and text-book costs.

Last year although I had this bursary, I was forced to come to campus on Monday and Tuesdays only, since these were compulsory days on which I had teaching practice or tutorials. I found that I could not afford to come to campus the rest of the week.

I have reached third year, without buying any textbooks, however since this year is going to be much more difficult than my previous years I do not want to take any risks.

I matriculated from Witteklip Secondary School in Chatsworth. I did a g46 course which consists of English, Afrikaans, Biology, Mathematics, Geography and Art. I regard myself as a good athlete and scholar. I represented my school in the interschool sports for volleyball, discus, javelin, shot-putt and relay. I was part of the schools senior debating team in both English and Afrikaans. I represented the school in the L. gangoo memorial speech day contest (in Afrikaans). I also brought honor to my school by coming 2nd in a major art competition hosted by the Aryan Benevolent homes. I was a school prefect. I matriculated with exemption in 1989.

In 1990 I registered for first-year at the University of Durban-Westville, where I still am today. At present I have 9 credits.

I am a member of the Hare Krishna Movement. On campus I am helping establish a Bhakti Yoga programme so that the Indian students can become more culturally aware. We also provide a food for life campaign where we feed the community regularly on Sundays at the temple or go out to poor areas.

I am also involved with a cultural organization who calls themselves Easter Promotions. This organization is responsible for a few cultural programmes that the community may enjoy during the year.