Lisa Nondumiso Msiza, a second-year Linguistics and Sign Language student, is the first recipient of this prestigious bursary. She says that the Abe Bailey Travel Bursary supports exceptional students who exhibit exceptional leadership qualities, including understanding and cooperation among people from a variety of cultures and languages.

Msiza will be visiting London in the UK for three weeks where she will be participating in all of the programmes that are offered, which allows them to visit different places that are related to history, culture, traditions, museums, and it will include shadow days.

“For this trip, I'll also work on a project that will take place in Edinburgh. I'll collaborate with someone from a different university on a variety of activities that our members of Abe can participate in, have fun with, and learn about some history through,” she said.

She got chosen for the bursary because she had read the requirements for the Abe Bailey Travel Bursary. She had to submit all the required documents, including academic records, a motivational letter, letters of recommendation from the residence head, a senior assistant officer from Kovise Act and Head of CUADS, attesting to her participation in leadership at the university, as well as her Golden Key certification.

“I was selected as an Abe member for travelling to the UK after being the shortlist and interviewed by professors.”

Her leadership roles at the university include being the Kovise ACT Residence Committee Member of 2021/22 and Team leader - Eco-Vehicle Skills Programme. She is also an Executive Committee Member of the SRC Treasurer of 2022. She has also been selected to work with Kovise ACT as ACT Committee for 2022/23.

“I am also a dancer and l am currently performing for UFS events/programmes/Arts and Culture,” she added.

She says she is so grateful for this honour because it gives her a great chance to learn new things like leadership skills and personal development.

“I can then use these skills to help my community as a leader in the future by supporting or guiding them in things like community services. I can also use these skills to help youth participate in all programs and projects for social skill development and leadership skills so that I can share what I have learned,” she said.

She was named top achiever (learner) for the 2020 matric class and being crowned in fifth position at the World Deaf Model in 2021. She is proof that beauty and brains can co-exist.

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