Meet Mariana

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Mariana Needs Our Help And Support

Without ongoing assistance, Mariana's success at Rustenburg Girls Junior School will not be sustainable. Mariana relies on the professional network of support provided by The Rocktar Foundation in the form of tutors, counselors and aides.

Mariana's Story Is Not Uncommon

Girls like Mariana, who previously received a sub-standard level of schooling, lack the proper educational foundations. This leaves Rockstar Girls at a disadvantage when entering a new school, and makes the change a very challenging one. They need all the emotional and academic support we can provide.

Having Fun

Not only is Mariana finally receiving a quality education, but she also loves participating in the school's drama club and going for weekly music lessons. These extra-curricular activities are fun, but also contribute greatly to Mariana's self-esteem, social skills and holistic development.

Mariana's Progress So Far

Working Towards A Brighter Future

Her transition into a new school was a difficult one at first, but Mariana is making very good progress. Her grades have greatly improved since she first enrolled at her new school and her growing self-confidence is hard to ignore.

Since becoming a Rockstar Girl, Mariana's future is filled with endless possibilities. She is finally getting the good education she needs in a safe and structured environment, and is able to share her learnings with her siblings at home.

Mariana's Journey Of Education

A Township Girl

Mariana lives in the heart of Philippi, Cape Town. Here, more than 50% of residents are unemployed, while the average household income comes in at less than R 20,000 per annum. Mariana lives in a small one-bedroom shack with her mother (Zameka), two sisters (Marisa and Thandiswa) and her baby brother (Mesiah). The family struggles to make ends meet and face many hardships from day to day. To Zameka, Mariana's new education is a way out of poverty for her daughter and her family, a gift for which she is very grateful.

A Lifechanging Opportunity

Mariana has come a long way from her days of dangerous long-distance commutes to a poor and under-resourced state school. In 2009 Mariana received a donation from Adriaan Pienaar, which helped make her dream of attending Rustenburg Girls Junior School a reality. Realising her need for professional support - and how this opportunity could change more girls' lives - Adriaan founded The Rockstar Foundation. Mariana became the first Rockstar Girl to join the Foundation and to receive a full academic bursary.

Overcoming Challenges

We provide Mariana with extra math classes, as well as a personal tutor who helps fill in the many gaps that arose from her under-resourced formative years. With the help of this personal attention, Mariana is now finally able to catch up with her new classmates at RGJS.