Med student Akudziweishe Dugunye received the news of a lifetime yesterday morning. Thanks to the incredible kindness and generosity of someone who believes in her, her fees have been cleared and she will get to graduate in December, and finally become a doctor!
Johannesburg, South Africa (10 November 2023) — Akudziweishe Dugunye received the news of a lifetime yesterday morning—that she will get to graduate, debt-free, and finally become the doctor she has worked so hard to be.
It was an emotional day for the Wits final-year medical student who has spent years worrying about the financial pain of her dream. Just the day before everything changed (and with a looming deadline to pay the excess of her fees), the future remained uncertain.
Aku has endured a winding road on the way to doctorhood, from her father accumulating debt from her first years of studies as an undergrad, to having to crowdfund much of her path after being accepted as part of the 10% who made it into medical school at Wits.
But, she has an incredible hope about her, and a dream too important to give up on. For this doctor-to-be, becoming a doctor isn’t just about healing bodies, but inspiring a brighter, healthier future for everyone she encounters.
So, when she got word that a generous donor had cleared the rest of her crowdfunding target, the gratitude she felt was enormous.
“I’m incredibly grateful for the overwhelming support I’ve received on my journey through medical school. Your generosity has been a beacon of hope, guiding me towards the fulfillment of my dream to graduate in December debt free,” she shared in reference of all those whose kindness made this moment possible.
Speaking to GTG, she shared with joy:
“As I reflect on this incredible journey, I am reminded that success is not achieved alone, but through the collective support of kind-hearted individuals,”
“I look forward to the day where I can pay forward the kindness and support I have received, and I am determined to make a positive impact on the lives of others, just as [they] have done for me.”
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And, to anyone in similar circumstances, her words of encouragement ring ever true:
“Seeking help isn’t a sign of weakness; it’s an act of courage. Together, let’s turn our shared resilience into a beacon of hope, inspiring one another to overcome.
“Keep believing, keep pushing—our breakthroughs are on the horizon.”
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