A Graeme College matriculant recently embarked on a trip to Cuba to learn Spanish, get a medical degree and best of all, when he's done he wants to come back and service his hometown community.
A Graeme College matriculant recently embarked on a trip to Cuba to learn Spanish, get a medical degree and best of all, when he's done he wants to come back and service his hometown community.
Fingo Village resident Abongile Tanga, 19, was selected as one of 100 aspiring doctors from the Eastern Cape to study towards a medical degree in Cuba. This exchange programme is facilitated by the national health department in conjunction with the Cuban government to train young doctors from South Africa.
After spending five years in Cuba they will be sent back to home soil to perform their two years of community service in order to finish their degrees. Tanga matriculated as one of the top pupils at his school last year. He said he was very excited about going to Cuba and promised to make Makana proud.
“I have been waiting for such an opportunity, it is once in a lifetime. Part of me is very anxious because I am leaving home, but I am hoping to come back and make a difference in the healthcare of Grahamstown, even if it is a little contribution,” he said.
Tanga promised do his best to become the kind of doctor that the Eastern Cape needs. He is anxious about learning another language, however. “We will do everything is Spanish so I'm a bit nervous about that, he told Grocott's Mail.
The students will study Spanish in the first six months of their stay in Cuba. His mother, Nowesile Tanga, said she felt very nervous for her son. “I was afraid of the fact that he is going to another country far from home, he was asking me, 'Mom what should I do?' but I have accepted that he is leaving and I wish him all the success in his studies. I want him to come back and work for the Makana community,” she said.
Makana municipality acting Mayor Vuyani Kolisi congratulated Tanga and encouraged him not to forget his values. “Understand where you come from, honesty and discipline must be your priority. Work hard and come back to implement what you have learned there. You are very lucky to be going to Cuba and as the municipality we are supporting you, go and achieve your goals,” Kolisi said.
Tanga left for Cuba last month and Makana municipality gave him R 10 000 as a farewell token for his journey.
