This is it! I made to the top!

This is Stellenbosch University (SU) in South Africa (SA)'s oldest town Stellenbosch that lies in the picturesque Jonkershoek Valley in the heart of the Western Cape Winelands. Today, as an internationally recognised institution of excellence with more than 24 000 students, 800 lecturers and some 50 research and service bodies, eleven faculties the campuses of SU make up a vibrant melting pot of different cultures. The University takes pride in the fact that it has one of SA’s highest proportions of postgraduate students of which ten percent are international students.

To be a 'Matie' (as a student of Stellenbosch is affectionately known) is, in fact, a privilege for other reasons: according to the University of Leiden’s ranking, SU ranked 454th out of the top 500 universities worldwide in terms of international publication output and 415th in terms of the impact of citations from SU scientific publications. In 2009 Webometrics ranked SU third in African continent behind the University of Cape Town and University of Pretoria.

Maties 2010 Graduation:

On 9th March 2010 came ‘Maties 2010 Graduation Day’, which officially brought me the good news that I passed the Postgraduate Diploma in HIV/AIDS Management in the DISTINCTION division, and being the only student who passed in this division I stood TOP in the class

As extensive as the AIDS epidemic itself is, this course attracts 360 plus students from all around the world, from China to Canada and from Afghanistan to South Africa. I was, and still is, exhilarated for this unexpected but ‘deserved’ achievement of mine. This success paves way for me to register for the subsequent MPhil (HIV/AIDS) programme, and for which I indeed already registered.

A class of Postgraduate Diploma in HIV/AIDS Management 2009, photo taken during Summer School January 2009

Thank You:

A huge portion of my gratitude goes to the extraordinary Chikankata team. This is indeed possible because of your enduring and unfailing support. I promise, together we will do better still in our encounter with the worst epidemic the world has ever known. There are individuals to whom I’d like to extend my grateful acknowledgements. But some obscure reasons prevent me from mentioning your names, and I’m sure you know yourself. Thank you so much.

To my lovely wife, thank you for not only being patient with me, but also for being a good teacher to me editing and proofreading my work assignments. My beautiful kids, your understanding and sacrifices means a lot to daddy. Thank you for giving daddy a reason to be proud of once again.

Oh! How I feel like one of the brightest colours in this part of Nelson Mandela’s beautiful Rainbow Nation!! Thank you God Almighty! You never fail me. I pledge my allegiance to You once again.

See me: On page 6 of list of graduande in the faculty of Economic and Management Sciences where our course belongs.

Chikankata Nursing Training School Graduation

Of all the many interesting events that Chikankata used to witness each year, Nurses' Graduation Day has always been the happiest and also the most emotional day of the year. It is the occasion when Chikankata, if anything of such word as pride is acceptable to use, can take pride in itself. Because in the current situation where shortages of health professionals, nurses in particular, is distressingly acute nationwide, Chikankata Nursing Training School is one of the few training institutions in Zambia that produces highly motivated nurses each year. And the institution is growing everyday in terms of infrastructure development, its increasing capacity of student intake, and quality learning and training. It has been recently upgraded, from its previous status of ‘enrolled’ nurse training school, to ‘registered’ nurse training school. This means our alumni nurses can now practise their skills anywhere around the globe. The school also trains midwives. The first batch of the registered nurses recently graduated at the end of last year 2009. Here are some of the graduation photos.

Our proud first batch of 'registered' nurses who graduated last year. Historically speaking, however, the first students graduated from Chikankata Nursing Training School in 1950. Since then the school has gone through many changes, new programmes have been introduced to replace old ones. Thousands of nurses have graduated from Chikankata over the years.

Here are some of the teaching faculties in their academic gowns.

This time there are 50 students who worked hard towards passing the three year course for registered nurses, and finally graduated. The number of student intake this year in 2010 has now increased to more than 70. The academic level required for entry to the course is a pass in the Grade 12 examination.

Prizes that are given away to the above average and 'highly' deserved graduates. Competition is tough and Chikankata is proud of its graduates.

A representative from Zambia Union of Nurses Organisation (ZUNO) congratulates the graduates.

Our Territorial leaders Colonels John & Dorothy Wainwright also grace the function. They too are very proud and happy.